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Expert and Interdisciplinary Analysis of AI-Driven Chatbots for Mental Health Support: Mixed Methods Study
Kayley Moylan1, Kevin Doherty1
1School of Information and Communication Studies, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|April 25, 2025
Summary
Mental health professionals express concerns about AI chatbots, citing risks of harm, dependence, and manipulation. Their findings suggest caution in developing AI for mental health support, especially for at-risk users.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Mental Health Technology
- Artificial Intelligence Ethics
Background:
- Chatbots are increasingly used as social and mental health companions, offering personalized support.
- While promising, these AI tools pose potential risks to user mental health, particularly for vulnerable populations.
- Understanding these risks is crucial for responsible development and deployment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the ethical and clinical implications of using AI chatbots for mental health support.
- To critically analyze the conduct of mental health chatbots from the perspective of mental health professionals.
- To evaluate the pragmatic and ethical considerations of AI-driven mental health tools.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods study involving 8 interdisciplinary mental health professionals.
- Hands-on analysis of 2 popular mental health chatbots, including data handling, interface, and responses.
- Utilized the Trust in Automation scale and semistructured interviews, followed by thematic analysis and t-tests.
Main Results:
- Mental health professionals perceived chatbot responses as potentially harmful, generic, and risking user dependence and manipulation.
- Trust scores for the chatbots were consistently medium to low, with no significant differences between them.
- AI-driven mental health chatbots pose specific harms to at-risk users, necessitating cautious design and development.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into mental health professionals' perspectives on AI chatbot design for mental health.
- Highlights the need for critical assessment and iterative refinement of AI in mental health support.
- Emphasizes maximizing benefits while minimizing risks associated with AI integration in mental healthcare.
Keywords:
AIartificial intelligencechatbotsdesignemotional dependenceethicsmental healthself-reliancetherapyMore Related Videos
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