Reimagining Recovery: Can Generative Artificial Intelligence Support the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa?
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Authors
Swaney, Katherine
Issue Date
2025-10
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
anorexia nervosa , artificial intelligence , eating disorders , treatment
Alternative Title
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a life-threatening eating disorder with the highest mortality rate among mental illnesses, yet its treatment remains underfunded and underexplored. This capstone investigates whether generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can support the treatment of AN, either as a standalone therapeutic modality or as an adjunct to existing approaches. It explores the complexities that contribute to the pathology of AN, and discusses some of the risks associated with this disorder including physical and emotional distress and high rates of suicide. Stigma and other barriers to care are discussed, as well as common therapeutic practices, such as inpatient treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and externalization. The discussion explores emerging applications of GenAI in psychotherapy, including AI-supported suicide risk detection, virtual reality exposure therapy, and chatbot-assisted interventions, while addressing ethical concerns such as privacy, embedded bias, and safety risks. This paper concludes by proposing pathways for future research that merge GenAI and AN treatment, emphasizing the need for inclusive, accessible, and ethically sound innovations to improve outcomes for individuals with AN.
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Citation
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License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess