Russian researchers have succeeded in developing the first chatbot designed to monitor schizophrenia patients and track the developments in their health remotely.
According to test results, the new digital tool proved its ability to encourage patients in remission to regularly complete their health diaries. The journal Consortium Psychiatricum published the results of the study examining the tool's effectiveness.
It should be noted that traditional clinical examinations of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders do not allow for the tracking of exacerbations (relapses) between doctor visits. However, relapses are usually preceded by early symptoms such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, and decreased activity. Digital tools can contribute to remote monitoring, but currently there are no domestic technologies specifically designed for this purpose, and some foreign technologies are not fully compatible with the Russian healthcare system.
The journal stated: "Researchers from Sechenov University Medical Center conducted, for the first time, an experiment with a chatbot designed for remote monitoring of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The experiment, which included 15 people in remission, showed the patients' willingness to use digital tools to monitor their health."
During the trial, participants completed a digital self-monitoring diary for nine days, both morning and evening, which included questions about symptoms, sleep quality, and adherence to treatment. Patients also rated the ease of use of the chatbot using 21 different indicators.
The journal explained that the data analysis yielded encouraging results, with 80% of participants completing more than half of the required journal entries—a figure consistent with global data on participation rates in digital interventions during the initial stages. Furthermore, approximately 90% of patients reported that the robot helped them better understand their condition, while 53% indicated that journaling improved their mood.
Conversely, the researchers identified several areas for improvement. 47% of participants described the diary process as tedious and cumbersome, while 67% requested a reduction in the number of questions. The developers intend to take these observations into account and work towards a balance between collecting comprehensive clinical data and ensuring patient comfort and ease of use.
