A mental health chatbot eased anxiety and low mood in tinnitus

In a Leeds Trinity University trial of 105 adults with tinnitus, 8 weeks of Woebot cut anxiety and depression scores against a waitlist; Tinnibot did more.

2
Benefit status
Reported
Evidence
Independently studied
Source published
Sources
1 publication
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Benefits

Benefit

Woebot users lowered depression scores on the PHQ-9 from 10.03 to 8.06

Awaiting review

Outcome identifiers

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Category

Improved Physical Health

Awaiting review

Status

Reported benefit

Awaiting review

Beneficiary groups

People.

Awaiting review

Beneficiaries

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Reach

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Distribution and access

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Duration

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Expected?

Yes

Awaiting review

Costs and harms

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

AI system

System

Woebot

Awaiting review

Model

This is an explicit unresolved assignment: the sources on record do not settle this question.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Release

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Provider

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Role

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Configuration

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Inputs and outputs

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Autonomy

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Workflow

Participants used the app daily for about 5 to 10 minutes over eight weeks. The trial recruited adults with self-reported persistent tinnitus who were not in other tinnitus treatment.

Awaiting review

Human oversight

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Relation to AI

Participants were randomized to Woebot, Tinnibot or a waitlist. The comparison isolates each app against no treatment.

Awaiting review

AI contribution

Participants were randomized to Woebot, Tinnibot or a waitlist. The comparison isolates each app against no treatment.

Awaiting review

Measurement

Studies

Randomized. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Study design

Randomized. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Measurement

Self-report GAD-7, PHQ-9, Insomnia Severity Index and Tinnitus Functional Index before and after eight weeks. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Setting and sample

105 UK adults with self-reported persistent tinnitus, three arms of 36 with three withdrawals. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Measures

Change in anxiety, depression, insomnia and tinnitus distress. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Comparison

Waiting-list control. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Results

Woebot: PHQ-9 -1.97, GAD-7 -1.47; Tinnibot: PHQ-9 -3.09, GAD-7 -2.50, TFI -13.23; control no reliable change. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Additional value from AI

Isolated against no treatment. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Limitations

Self-reported diagnosis and outcomes; trial not prospectively registered; small arms; post-intervention only. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Denominators

Daily use for eight weeks. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Materials for replication

Data available from the corresponding author on request. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Money

Kind of value

The kind of monetary value is unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Amount

The monetary value is not established.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Currency and prices

The currency and price basis are unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Period and unit

The period and unit of the monetary estimate are unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Realization

Whether the monetary value was realized is unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Recipients and payers

The recipients and payers are unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Gross or net

Whether the monetary figure includes costs is unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Included costs

The costs included in the estimate are unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Comparison

The financial comparison is not established.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Method

The method used to calculate monetary value is unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Return and payback

The return on investment or payback period is not established.

Not reviewedUnresolved

People and places

Participants

Developer: Woebot Health. Operator: Leeds Trinity University School of Social Sciences (trial).

Awaiting review

Jurisdictions

Benefit: United Kingdom (online trial recruited with Tinnitus UK). Developer: United States. Operator: United Kingdom.

Awaiting review

Ownership and control

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Dependencies

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Cross-border connections

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Geopolitical implications

The geopolitical implications are unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Follow-up

Conditions for replication

The app remains available to users. Users engage with it most days for several weeks.

Awaiting review

Replication attempts

1 follow-up entry. Benefit did not recur: 1.

Awaiting review

Later findings

1 June 2025. The authors report that Woebot was withdrawn from public use in June 2025.

Awaiting review

Availability

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Institutional decision

A relevant institutional decision has not been established.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Grounds

The grounds for an institutional decision are unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Action and result

The result of an institutional decision is not established.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Success criterion

The criterion for a successful institutional decision is unclear.

Not reviewedUnresolved

Evidence

Source numbers

AIBD-0639-source-0001

Awaiting review

Citations

Numbered references below.

Awaiting review

Language

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Source relationships

Independent

Awaiting review

Original evidence

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Access and versions

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Supported findings

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Evidence strength

Independently studied. Sources: one independent peer-reviewed study. The cited evidence includes no finding by a regulator or court. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Missing evidence

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Grades

Assessed benefits

People.

Awaiting review

Depth

People: 2.

Awaiting review

Reasons

People: Woebot users lowered PHQ-9 depression scores by 1.97 points and GAD-7 anxiety scores by 1.47 points while the waitlist did not change.

Awaiting review

Observed or intended

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Rubric

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Assessor and date

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Alternative assessments

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Fill

Independently studied

Awaiting review

Entry details

Kind

The case describes an evaluation or a study. An independent randomized trial of commercial apps. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Field

Mental health care.

Awaiting review

Purpose

Woebot was built to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety. The trial tested it in people with tinnitus, and the benefit to mood and anxiety is the purpose of the app.

Awaiting review

Dates

Source published: 12 April 2026. Updated: 29 October 2026.

Awaiting review

Stage

The system has been retired. The app was in routine public use during the trial and was withdrawn in June 2025. [1]

Fully reviewed

Review date: 29 October 2026.

Sources: [1]

Version

SHA-256: 5936729ea472…

Awaiting review

SHA-256 of the public case, its assessments, and its displayed answers and notes, excluding its own identifier and the derived coverage summary.

References

Other identifiers

AI Incident Database: 545.

Awaiting review

Category mappings

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Citable summary

Unresolved

Not reviewedUnresolved

Revisions

2 revisions. Latest: 29 October 2026.

Awaiting review

Sources

  1. Peer-reviewed study Independent author

    Jackson JG, Yeates F, Morris B, Hollands S, Drybrough GE. App-based conversational agents for tinnitus distress and mental health: A randomised controlled trial. Internet Interventions 2026;44:100944.

Collections: Scrutiny and findings, Cross-border cases.

Cite this case

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Version 5936729ea472, archived in the edition of 29 October 2026

Benefit marks

Depth

The number and color show the depth of a benefit.

  1. A convenience, or time or money saved.
  2. A measurable improvement in a result or ability.
  3. A lasting change, an ability restored, or a risk removed.
  4. A serious harm averted or a serious condition resolved in time.
  5. A life or livelihood preserved, or a change documented across a population.

Beneficiary

  • Circle: a person
  • Square: an organization
  • Triangle: society

Evidence

  • Solid. A court or regulator found a benefit, or researchers independently studied it.

  • Hatched. Independent reporting.

  • Outline. Claimed by the parties. Only the people or organizations involved, or sources whose independence has not been assessed, support the benefit.

The fill changes with the evidence. The depth color stays the same.

How benefits are assessed