AI Chatbots for Emotional and Mental Health Outcomes in Gastroenterology Patients: A Scoping Review

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are frequently associated with significant psychological comorbidities. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) experience anxiety and depression at rates 2-3 times higher than the general population, while inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients report psychological distress in 30-50% of cases. The gut-brain axis provides a bidirectional pathway through which emotional states influence GI symptoms and vice versa, making psychological interventions particularly relevant in gastroenterology. Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have emerged as scalable tools for delivering psychological support and patient education. In general mental health populations, meta-analyses demonstrate consistent effects on depression (Hedge's g = 0.26-0.64) and anxiety (g = 0.19-0.37). The recent publication of the first generative AI therapy chatbot randomized controlled trial (RCT) in NEJM AI (March 2025) demonstrated effect sizes approaching traditional psychotherapy (d = 0.845-0.903 for depression). However, the application of AI chatbots specifically to GI patient populations remains poorly characterized. Preliminary searches suggest substantial heterogeneity across GI conditions, with IBS having multiple validated interventions while other conditions (pancreatic cancer, celiac disease, GERD) have no dedicated chatbot research despite high psychological burden. A scoping review is the appropriate methodology because: (1) the evidence base is emerging and heterogeneous; (2) multiple GI conditions and chatbot technologies require mapping; (3) research gaps need systematic identification to guide future primary research; and (4) no previous synthesis has comprehensively addressed AI chatbots for emotional/mental health outcomes across the full spectrum of GI disorders.