Research on therapeutic chatbots reveals possible benefits against anxiety, stress and depression. But experts urge caution: not all tools are the same and no algorithm replaces human relationships (and not only).
On October 10th, World Mental Health Dayit is worth looking at a relationship that until a few years ago seemed like the stuff of science fiction. It’s the one with the artificial intelligence. We no longer use it just to write an email, summarize a document or look for a recipe. More and more often we entrust it with doubts, fears, moments of loneliness. We ask her for advice, a reassuring word, even an opinion on a romantic relationship. And, when the answer comes, it can seem surprisingly close to that of a person who knows us. The success of AI chatbot it is also played out here: in the continuous availability, in the apparent absence of judgment and in the possibility of speaking without fearing the gaze of the other. No appointments to make, no waiting list, no need to explain why you feel fragile that day. Just open a window on your screen. But what happens when this convenience meets an emotional need? And above all: Can a dialogue with a machine really help us feel better?
Chatbots and mental health: what the science says
Research is beginning to measure the effects of artificial intelligence on psychological well-being. A meta-analysis published in 2025 on Journal of Medical Internet Researchconducted on 29,637 participants, found small to moderate benefits in alleviating psychological distress, with results also on anxiety, depression and stress among adolescents and young adults. Another review, published in 2024 and indexed on PubMed, analyzed 18 clinical studies for a total of 3,477 participants, finding a reduction in anxious and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, in 2025, a randomized study published on NEJM AI evaluated Therabot, a generative chatbot designed for therapy support. The results are promising, but caution is needed. Not all chatbots are therapeutic tools and the benefits observed with specific systems cannot be automatically extended to every digital assistant. A reassuring response can help put your thoughts in order. However, it does not mean that the machine feels empathy or truly understands suffering. The system generates responses: it does not experience the emotions of those who speak to it. «Especially in people who have difficulty relating to relationships, and in particular in young people, a chatbot can represent a help» he tells Panorama theDoctor Emanuele De Nobili, among the most authoritative experts in preventive, regenerative and anti-aging medicine and author of the book “The cortisol reset” (Giunti, 2026). “It also happened during Covid, when many kids were locked in their homes and had few opportunities to compare with their peers. Artificial intelligence offers an immediate exchange and, unlike a person, tends not to express judgements: it can provide encouraging answers, support self-esteem and temporarily improve mood. Dopamine is involved in the brain mechanisms of reward, and this is also why experiences perceived as positive can push us to repeat them. But this is where we need to pay attention: when the search for that gratification becomes continuous and we are no longer able to set limits for ourselves, problematic behavior can develop. Especially in the most fragile people, the chatbot can be a resourceas long as it doesn’t become the only source of comfort.”
When digital comfort becomes a trap
The risk emerges when the chatbot stops being a tool and becomes the main emotional reference. You prefer to talk to the AI rather than face a difficulty with a friend, you give up on meetings or you continually seek digital confirmation before making a decision. In the scientific debate we talk about addiction to chatbots and parasocial attachment. It is a still evolving field regarding the chatbot relationship and mental health: there is no universal threshold of minutes beyond which an addiction automatically develops. What matters above all is the impact of use on daily life, sleep and relationships. «The first element to observe is the time dedicated to these artificial relationships, especially when talking about boys» continues De Nobili. «If a young person locks himself in his room and spends hours connected to a chatbotgiving up other activities and relationships with peers, is a sign that deserves attention. Another alarm bell is night-time use: kids who stay up until three in the morning to continue conversing with their virtual interlocutor. In these cases the problem is not just the amount of time, but the fact that the interaction begins to occupy the space of sleep and real relationships.”
Cold turkey effect in the relationship between chatbots and mental health
And then there’s it the cold-turkey effectwhich describes the difficulty of abruptly ending a relationship with the chatbot when a strong attachment has developed. «You get used to always finding an answer, a confirmation, a presence available at any time» concludes De Nobili. «When you try to break away, you can miss that exchange and risk falling back into the habit. Research is beginning to investigate these forms of addiction, which can manifest themselves as looking for a pseudosocial companyrefuge in virtual worlds or compulsive need to obtain information. The point is to understand that artificial intelligence can be a help, but it must not become the only interlocutor. This is why it is important to rebuild an anchorage to real life: interact with people, cultivate friendships and learn to use technology without depending on its continuous presence.”
Dogs and cats can also help us feel better
Among the relationships that contribute to daily well-being and guarantee anchoring to reality, the external environment and social interactions there are also those with pets. According to the National Dog Survey 2026 of Dogs Trust, 96% of owners interviewed believe that having a dog is good for mental health. The Cats Report 2025 of Cats Protection finds that 49% of owners consider their cat a reason to get up in the morning. These are data describing owners’ perceptions, not evidence of a therapeutic effect. The company of animals can encourage routine, movement and socialization opportunitiesbut it also requires respect for their needs and their nature. Furthermore, owning a pet can improve the physical, psychological and social well-being of older people living alone: on 900 over 55s living aloneThe 76% reports an improvement in emotional well-being thanks to their animals, the 62% a reduction in stress and the 45% an increase in physical activity. Nearly half also indicated that animals help reduce loneliness. All benefits linked to “Pawsitivity”, i.e. the set of all the benefits at level psychological And physicist that the presence in the daily life of pets brings to human beings: an effect also highlighted by important research by University of Maryland .
Technology can offer immediate answers. Relationships, human and otherwise, require presence and responsibility. The difference can also be measured by what happens after turning off the screen: whether we return to life with greater clarity or whether we feel the need to turn it back on so as not to face it.
