Improving a chatbot to deliver faster, scalable support for eating disorders
Official title: Optimizing an automated chatbot to achieve efficient, scalable treatment for eating disorders
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11261615 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create an automated chatbot that delivers quick, scalable help for adults with eating disorders through a smartphone app.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | January 20, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $659,119 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH138735-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11261615 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with eating-disorder symptoms (for example anorexia nervosa, binge-eating or bulimia-spectrum problems) who are willing and able to use a smartphone app and engage with an automated coach.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those who need immediate inpatient or medically supervised care for severe eating disorders, or those without reliable smartphone access may not benefit from this chatbot-focused approach.
What this research studies
If I join, I would use a smartphone app with an automated chatbot that mimics human coaching to address eating-disorder symptoms. The team will compare different combinations of four treatment parts that target weight/shape concerns, dietary restraint, emotion regulation, and resisting binge urges. They will use an optimization randomized trial (the MOST framework) to find which components and ordering work best and to deliver the most helpful pieces early. The project partners with experienced researchers and the National Eating Disorders Association to improve access and reach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give people with eating disorders faster, lower-cost treatment options that are easier to access than traditional therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Coached app programs for eating disorders have shown promise when human coaches are involved, but fully automated chatbot treatments are relatively new and have limited large-scale evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.