The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Using Stories for Children with Cancer

Background and Aims: Childhood cancer significantly affects children’s psychological well-being, often resulting in anxiety, depression, and behavioral difficulties. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a well-established method for addressing such mental health issues. Leveraging the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this study explores the use of personalized therapeutic stories as a method of enhancing CBT. Specifically, it examines how AI can tailor therapeutic interventions by analyzing emotional states in children and creating interactive stories designed to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms while teaching essential coping strategies. Methods: This study employed a convenience sampling of ۱۰ children diagnosed with cancer, aged ۷–۱۲, at Omid Hospital in Mashhad. AI software was utilized to develop personalized therapeutic stories based on the emotional characteristics of each participant. Participants engaged with the stories over a four-week intervention period. To measure the effectiveness of this approach, the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)” was administered at baseline and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of the intervention. Results: Analysis of the HADS scores revealed a significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms among participants following the intervention. The mean anxiety score decreased from ۱۳.۵ ± ۲.۱ to ۹.۲ ± ۱.۷ (p < ۰.۰۱), while the mean depression score was reduced from ۱۲.۸ ± ۲.۴ to ۸.۴ ± ۲.۰ (p < ۰.۰۱). These findings highlight the effectiveness of AI-generated therapeutic stories in reducing psychological distress in children with cancer. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the integration of AI into CBT can substantially reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in children with cancer. The use of personalized therapeutic stories, created based on AI-driven emotional analysis, represents a promising advancement in pediatric cancer care. Future studies with larger sample sizes and extended intervention periods are recommended to further validate these outcomes and explore the long-term benefits.

کلیدواژه ها:

Coping Skills ، Artificial Intelligence ، Neoplasms