Medical Xpress December 10, 2025
Mental health chatbots work best when people form an emotional connection with their AI therapist, according to new research by the University of Sussex published in Social Science & Medicine.
With more than 1 in 3 U.K. residents now using AI to support their mental health, a new study highlights both the key to effective chatbot therapy and the psychological risks of “synthetic intimacy.”
Analysis of feedback from 4,000 users of a market-leading mental health app found that therapy was more successful when users developed emotional intimacy with their AI therapist. However, the study also raises fresh questions about the growing phenomenon of synthetic intimacy—where people develop social, emotional or intimate bonds with artificial intelligence.
University of Sussex Assistant Professor...
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