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Your Robot Therapist Will See You Now: Ethical Implications of Embodied Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychotherapy
Fiske A, Henningsen P, Buyx A.. Journal of medical Internet research, 2019-05-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Results From an ethical perspective, important benefits of embodied AI applications in mental health include new modes of treatment, opportunities to engage hard-to-reach populations, better patient response, and freeing up time for physicians. We conclude by indicating areas of future research and developing recommendations for high-priority areas in need of concrete ethical guidance.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Fiske, A., Henningsen, P., & Buyx, A. (2019). Your Robot Therapist Will See You Now: Ethical Implications of Embodied Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychotherapy. Journal of medical Internet research. https://doi.org/10.2196/13216
Vancouver
Fiske A, Henningsen P, Buyx A. Your Robot Therapist Will See You Now: Ethical Implications of Embodied Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychotherapy. Journal of medical Internet research. 2019. doi:10.2196/13216. PMID: 31094356.
BibTeX
@article{fiske2019-31094356,
author = {Fiske, A. and Henningsen, P. and Buyx, A.},
title = {{Your Robot Therapist Will See You Now: Ethical Implications of Embodied Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychotherapy}},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.2196/13216},
pmid = {31094356},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/13216}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results From an ethical perspective, important benefits of embodied AI applications in mental health include new modes of treatment, opportunities to engage hard-to-reach populations, better patient response, and freeing up time for physicians.
- We conclude by indicating areas of future research and developing recommendations for high-priority areas in need of concrete ethical guidance.
Why it matters
This paper discusses ethical implications of embodied artificial intelligence in psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy, noting benefits such as new modes of treatment and freeing up physician time. It does not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of medical Internet research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Medical Internet Research: journal h-index 286 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 850 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 94.4 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 77.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 566 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Alena Buyx: h-index 40 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Technical University of Munich: institution h-index 1,092 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31094356) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2196/13216
- PubMed: 31094356
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Medical Internet Research →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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