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Emotionally Intelligent Chatbots in Mental Health: A Review of Psychological, Ethical, and Developmental Impacts

by Ruwini Herath
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International Journal of Computer Applications
Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Volume 187 - Number 29
Year of Publication: 2025
Authors: Ruwini Herath
10.5120/ijca2025925507

Ruwini Herath . Emotionally Intelligent Chatbots in Mental Health: A Review of Psychological, Ethical, and Developmental Impacts. International Journal of Computer Applications. 187, 29 ( Aug 2025), 49-56. DOI=10.5120/ijca2025925507

@article{ 10.5120/ijca2025925507,
author = { Ruwini Herath },
title = { Emotionally Intelligent Chatbots in Mental Health: A Review of Psychological, Ethical, and Developmental Impacts },
journal = { International Journal of Computer Applications },
issue_date = { Aug 2025 },
volume = { 187 },
number = { 29 },
month = { Aug },
year = { 2025 },
issn = { 0975-8887 },
pages = { 49-56 },
numpages = {9},
url = { https://ijcaonline.org/archives/volume187/number29/emotionally-intelligent-chatbots-in-mental-health-a-review-of-psychological-ethical-and-developmental-impacts/ },
doi = { 10.5120/ijca2025925507 },
publisher = {Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA},
address = {New York, USA}
}
%0 Journal Article
%1 2025-08-20T21:35:10.094395+05:30
%A Ruwini Herath
%T Emotionally Intelligent Chatbots in Mental Health: A Review of Psychological, Ethical, and Developmental Impacts
%J International Journal of Computer Applications
%@ 0975-8887
%V 187
%N 29
%P 49-56
%D 2025
%I Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Abstract

Use of emotionally intelligent chatbots is increasing in mental health settings to provide support by recognizing and reacting to users’ emotions. This review has a closer look at 59 peer-reviewed studies from 2017 to 2024, with a focus on systems like Woebot and Wysa. It maps out how affective computing, psychological frameworks like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and human-computer interaction theories shape these systems. While there is early evidence of benefits like reduced anxiety and better emotional self-awareness, many issues remain unresolved. These include weak long-term evidence, cultural bias in emotion recognition, and potential over-dependence on AI. We also highlight the risks of collecting and using emotional data without sufficient oversight. Based on this, we suggest future research should move toward multicultural, longer-term, and ethically grounded studies. The goal should be to create emotionally intelligent systems that support, not replace, genuine human connection, especially in vulnerable populations.

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Index Terms

Computer Science
Information Sciences

Keywords

Empathic AI Affective computing Mental-health chatbots Artificial empathy Human–computer interaction Emotion recognition

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