Development of a generative AI agent for family support in implementing family-based treatment for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa
In this expert review, the safety-gated RAG system predominantly generated FBT-concordant responses that provided meal-level guidance and empathic empowerment-oriented support to families. By proceduralizing complex FBT concepts and presenting multiple response options for pathological behaviors, the system translates FBT principles into practical guidance supporting refeeding adherence, preserving family self-efficacy, and suggesting that domain-specific AI may help bridge structural limitations in FBT. Usability studies and randomized controlled trials are warranted to determine their impact on caregiver burden, self-efficacy, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes.
Authors
- Toshifumi Ozaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1732-9307)
- Makiko Horiuchi
- Chie Tanaka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0829-7342)
- Joe Hasei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4028-0786)
- Chikako Fujii (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0167-9065)
- Hirokazu Tsukahara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6432-9038)
- Ayumi Okada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9414-1650)
- Akiko Sugihara
- Yuya Takahashi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2932-540X)
- Ryuichi Nakahara
- Hideki Katayama
- Mana Hanzawa
- Koichi Takeuchi
- Yoshie Shigeyasu
Institutions
- Okayama University of Science (JP)
- Okayama University (JP)
- Notre Dame Seishin University (JP)
- Okayama University Hospital (JP)
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health (AU)
- Okayama Medical Center (JP)
- Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Digital Health
- Published
- 2026-03-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1759690
- Primary Topic
- Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Mishima Kaiun Memorial Foundation
- Japan Science and Technology Agency