Petra Faber
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Petra Faber is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of geriatric mental health and human-robot interaction. Her work focuses on developing accessible, non-pharmacological interventions for older adults, particularly those suffering from late-life depression and comorbid cognitive decline. In her landmark 2021 study, "A Wizard of Oz Approach to Robotic Therapy for Older Adults With Depressive Symptoms," Dr. Faber demonstrated the feasibility of using socially assistive robots as a delivery platform for psychotherapy—a patient group often excluded from traditional talk therapy and relegated to medication. This highly cited work (19 citations) challenged prevailing clinical assumptions by showing that robotic therapy can engage older adults who might otherwise resist treatment, offering a scalable, stigma-reducing alternative to antidepressants. Her innovative methodology—using a hidden human operator ("Wizard of Oz") to control the robot—bridges the gap between fully autonomous systems and human-led care, providing a safe, adaptive framework for future AI-driven mental health support. Dr. Faber’s contributions are reshaping how we think about aging, technology, and compassionate care, opening new pathways for treating some of society’s most vulnerable populations.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1