A recent study revealed that robots may be more effective than parent-reported or self-reported tests in diagnosing mental health disorders in youths. A team of roboticistscomputer scientists and psychiatrists at the University of Cambridge conducted a study with 28 kids between the ages of 8 and 13 and a child-sized humanoid robot administered a series of standard psychological questionnaires to assess the Mental Wellness of each participant. The children were willing to trust the robot, in some cases sharing information with the robot that they had not yet shared through the standard evaluation method of online or in-person questionnaires. This is the first time robots have been used to assess the mental well-being of children. The researchers say the robots could be a useful addition to traditional mental health assessment methods, although they are not intended as a substitute for professional mental health support. The results will be presented today (September 1) at the 31 IEEE International Conference in Robot and Human Interactive Communication (ROMAN) in Naples, Italy.
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