Mental health chatbot Woebot can help fight depression

For many people with depression, taking the first step and visiting a doctor can be daunting. But a new app could help to combat the condition without the need to even leave the house. Researchers have created a chatbot that has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety two times faster than traditional therapy. To assess how effective the chatbot is, the researchers tested Woebot on students suffering from anxiety and depression. In a randomised study, 70 students were asked to either engage with Woebot, or a self-help eBook over a two-week period.