In short
- More than three-quarters of psychiatrists surveyed said that patients have discussed using AI to help with mental illness, cognition, or interaction.
- Thirty-five percent of patients reported using AI as an adjunct to psychiatry, while 39% said patients used it for self-diagnosis.
- Many psychologists have expressed concerns about security, privacy, trust, and the potential for chatbots to encourage fraud or self-harm.
As augmented AI becomes part of everyday life, patients are bringing chatbot conversations into clinical settings.
According to the new American Psychological Association research of more than 1,200 US mental health professionals, 77% said they had patients who discussed using AI for psychological support, cognition, companionship, or other health-related goals.
In the survey, 39% of psychiatrists reported patients using AI to self-diagnose mental illness, 33% said patients used chatbots to assist in treatment or therapy, and 35% reported patients using AI as an adjunct to a psychiatrist.
“Although few psychiatrists said that their patients use chatbots in inappropriate ways, more than three (36%) said that they saw their patients becoming dependent on the chatbot, and 15% said or saw their patients start to think wrongly or delusions related to the chatbot,” the survey said.
Psychiatrists have reported patients using chatbots for social purposes. Twenty-two percent said that patients are using AI in relationships, while 13% said that patients are sexually active. relationships and chatbots.
Among psychiatrists whose patients have developed relationships with chatbots, 71% said patients discussed their mental health with AI, while 68% said patients felt supported or reassured by chatbot chats. Almost half reported that they have better communication with chatbots, and 41% said patients use them to improve problem-solving skills.
According to this study, the overall utilization may be higher than reported because the study only included interactions between psychiatrists and existing patients.
The research comes as AI companies develop chatbots and AI companions, while researchers continue to raise concerns about mental health. More than a third of psychiatrists reported that patients become dependent on chatbots, and 15% reported cases involving delusions or delusions.
The findings follow recent research from the City University of New York and King’s College London that found that several advanced AI models can promote delusions, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal thoughts, with xAIs. Grok 4.1 Quick to do the worst.
“Psychiatrists’ attitudes toward the use of chatbots in mental health counseling are characterized by concerns about security and privacy,” a previous study said. “Nearly every psychologist (97%) feels that chatbots can inadvertently encourage bad behavior or false beliefs, and 94% said that current chatbots cannot solve problems with the right amount.”
The research also comes as AI developers face legal scrutiny over the role chatbots could play in real-world disruption. In recent months, OpenAI, Google, and xAI have been hit with lawsuits, including a wrongful-death lawsuit against Google over claims that Gemini inspired a Florida man. fraud before killing himself. This is in addition to the lawsuit against OpenAI built by a mass shootings in British Columbia and accidental drinkingis an action class to blame xAI’s Grok for creating child pornography.
While the APA acknowledged that AI can help users improve their mental health and augment professional care, it cautioned that chatbots are not confidential and should not replace licensed mental health professionals.
“Many people – especially teenagers and young adults – can use AI as a cost-effective and accessible form of mental health counseling,” the study said. “However, AI is not a safe or effective option for a qualified healthcare provider and should be used with caution.”
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