Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges
Digital health interventions are increasingly necessary to bridge gaps in mental health care, providing scalable and accessible solutions to address unmet needs. Relationship challenges, a significant driver of individual well-being and distress, are often under-supported due to barriers such as sti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000258 |
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| author | Laura M. Vowels Shannon K. Sweeney Matthew J. Vowels |
| author_facet | Laura M. Vowels Shannon K. Sweeney Matthew J. Vowels |
| author_sort | Laura M. Vowels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Digital health interventions are increasingly necessary to bridge gaps in mental health care, providing scalable and accessible solutions to address unmet needs. Relationship challenges, a significant driver of individual well-being and distress, are often under-supported due to barriers such as stigma, cost, and limited access to trained therapists. This study evaluates Amanda, a GPT-4-powered voice-based chatbot, designed to deliver single-session relationship support and enhance therapeutic engagement through natural and collaborative interactions. Participants (N = 54) completed a range of clinical outcome measures and their attitudes toward chatbots and digital health interventions pre- and post-intervention as well as two weeks later. In the interactions with the chatbot, the participants explored a range of relational issues and reported significant improvements in problem-specific outcomes, including reduced distress, enhanced communication, and greater confidence in managing conflicts directly after the interaction as well as two weeks later. While generic relationship outcomes showed only delayed improvements, individual well-being did not significantly change. Participants rated Amanda highly on usability, therapeutic skills, and working alliance, with reduced repetitiveness compared to the text-based version. These findings underscore the potential of voice-based chatbots to deliver accessible and effective relationship support. Future research should explore multi-session formats, clinical populations, and comparisons with other large language models to refine and expand AI-powered interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-775471532af044178a3e1f3e98c37ed1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2949-8821 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans |
| spelling | doaj-art-775471532af044178a3e1f3e98c37ed12025-08-20T02:17:25ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans2949-88212025-05-01410014110.1016/j.chbah.2025.100141Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challengesLaura M. Vowels0Shannon K. Sweeney1Matthew J. Vowels2School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, UK; Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Corresponding author. School of Psychology, Whitelands College, University of Roehampton, Holybourne Ave, London, SW15 4JD, UK.Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandInstitute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; The Sense Innovation and Research Center, Sion, Lausanne, Switzerland; Radiology Department, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Centre for Vision Speech and Signal Processing, University of Surrey, Guildford, UKDigital health interventions are increasingly necessary to bridge gaps in mental health care, providing scalable and accessible solutions to address unmet needs. Relationship challenges, a significant driver of individual well-being and distress, are often under-supported due to barriers such as stigma, cost, and limited access to trained therapists. This study evaluates Amanda, a GPT-4-powered voice-based chatbot, designed to deliver single-session relationship support and enhance therapeutic engagement through natural and collaborative interactions. Participants (N = 54) completed a range of clinical outcome measures and their attitudes toward chatbots and digital health interventions pre- and post-intervention as well as two weeks later. In the interactions with the chatbot, the participants explored a range of relational issues and reported significant improvements in problem-specific outcomes, including reduced distress, enhanced communication, and greater confidence in managing conflicts directly after the interaction as well as two weeks later. While generic relationship outcomes showed only delayed improvements, individual well-being did not significantly change. Participants rated Amanda highly on usability, therapeutic skills, and working alliance, with reduced repetitiveness compared to the text-based version. These findings underscore the potential of voice-based chatbots to deliver accessible and effective relationship support. Future research should explore multi-session formats, clinical populations, and comparisons with other large language models to refine and expand AI-powered interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000258ChatbotsArtificial intelligenceRelationship supportLarge language modelsVoice-based interventionsDigital therapy |
| spellingShingle | Laura M. Vowels Shannon K. Sweeney Matthew J. Vowels Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans Chatbots Artificial intelligence Relationship support Large language models Voice-based interventions Digital therapy |
| title | Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges |
| title_full | Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges |
| title_short | Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges |
| title_sort | evaluating the efficacy of amanda a voice based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges |
| topic | Chatbots Artificial intelligence Relationship support Large language models Voice-based interventions Digital therapy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882125000258 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lauramvowels evaluatingtheefficacyofamandaavoicebasedlargelanguagemodelchatbotforrelationshipchallenges AT shannonksweeney evaluatingtheefficacyofamandaavoicebasedlargelanguagemodelchatbotforrelationshipchallenges AT matthewjvowels evaluatingtheefficacyofamandaavoicebasedlargelanguagemodelchatbotforrelationshipchallenges |