Artificial Intelligence (AI) has progressively impacted healthcare around the world. The increasing need for readily available mental health services, coupled with the swift advancement of novel technologies, prompts conversations over the viability of psychotherapy approaches using engagements with AI. Despite the positive impacts, there are recognizable drawbacks associated with the application of AI in psychotherapy. Establishing a therapeutic alliance is difficult for non-human entities. Psychotherapy is a task too complex for limited artificial intelligence. AI appears capable of handling jobs that are clearly defined and relatively straightforward. Besides, AI malfunctions, data confidentiality, informed consent, and risk of bias are potential concerns. We present a literature update of possible solutions to overcome these concerns.
References
[1]
Xiong, J., Lipsitz, O., Nasri, F., Lui, L.M.W., Gill, H., Phan, L., et al. (2020) Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health in the General Population: A Systematic Review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277, 55-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001
[2]
D’Alfonso, S. (2020) AI in Mental Health. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 112-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.005
[3]
Graham, S., Depp, C., Lee, E.E., Nebeker, C., Tu, X., Kim, H., et al. (2019) Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health and Mental Illnesses: An Overview. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21, Article No. 116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1094-0
[4]
Benning, T. (2015) Limitations of the Biopsychosocial Model in Psychiatry. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 6, 347-352. https://doi.org/10.2147/amep.s82937
[5]
Ciliberti, R., Schiavone, V. and Alfano, L. (2023) Artificial Intelligence and the Caring Relationship: Ethical Profiles. MedicinaHistorica, 7, e2023016.
[6]
Alfano, L., Malcotti, I. and Ciliberti, R. (2023) Psychotherapy, Artificial Intelligence and Adolescents: Ethical Aspects. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 64, E438-E442.
[7]
Briganti, G. (2023) Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry. PsychiatriaDanubina, 35, 15-19.
[8]
Grodniewicz, J.P. and Hohol, M. (2023) Waiting for a Digital Therapist: Three Challenges on the Path to Psychotherapy Delivered by Artificial Intelligence. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, Article 1190084. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1190084
[9]
Khawaja, Z. and Bélisle-Pipon, J. (2023) Your Robot Therapist Is Not Your Therapist: Understanding the Role of AI-Powered Mental Health Chatbots. Frontiers in Digital Health, 5, Article 1278186. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1278186
[10]
Zhang, M., Scandiffio, J., Younus, S., Jeyakumar, T., Karsan, I., Charow, R., et al. (2023) The Adoption of AI in Mental Health Care-Perspectives from Mental Health Professionals: Qualitative Descriptive Study. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e47847. https://doi.org/10.2196/47847
[11]
Espejo, G., Reiner, W. and Wenzinger, M. (2023) Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Healthcare: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promises. Cureus, 15, e44748. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.44748
[12]
Ciecierski-Holmes, T., Singh, R., Axt, M., Brenner, S. and Barteit, S. (2022) Artificial Intelligence for Strengthening Healthcare Systems in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Scoping Review. NPJ Digital Medicine, 5, Article No. 162. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-022-00700-y
[13]
Parviainen, J. and Rantala, J. (2021) Chatbot Breakthrough in the 2020s? An Ethical Reflection on the Trend of Automated Consultations in Health Care. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 25, 61-71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-021-10049-w
[14]
Pham, K.T., Nabizadeh, A. and Selek, S. (2022) Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots in Psychiatry. Psychiatric Quarterly, 93, 249-253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-022-09973-8
[15]
Moreno, M., Riddle, K., Jenkins, M.C., Singh, A.P., Zhao, Q. and Eickhoff, J. (2022) Measuring Problematic Internet Use, Internet Gaming Disorder, and Social Media Addiction in Young Adults: Cross-Sectional Survey Study. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 8, e27719. https://doi.org/10.2196/27719
[16]
Basil, N.N., Ambe, S., Ekhator, C. and Fonkem, E. (2022) Health Records Database and Inherent Security Concerns: A Review of the Literature. Cureus, 14, e30168. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30168
[17]
Yelne, S., Chaudhary, M., Dod, K., Sayyad, A. and Sharma, R. (2023) Harnessing the Power of AI: A Comprehensive Review of Its Impact and Challenges in Nursing Science and Healthcare. Cureus, 15, e49252. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.49252
[18]
Al Kuwaiti, A., Nazer, K., Al-Reedy, A., Al-Shehri, S., Al-Muhanna, A., Subbarayalu, A.V., et al. (2023) A Review of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 13, Article 951. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13060951
[19]
Panch, T., Mattie, H. and Atun, R. (2019) Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic Bias: Implications for Health Systems. Journal of Global Health, 9, Article ID: 010318. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.09.020318
[20]
Bhargava, H., Salomon, C., Suresh, S., Chang, A., Kilian, R., Stijn, D.v., et al. (2024) Promises, Pitfalls, and Clinical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Pediatrics. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e49022. https://doi.org/10.2196/49022
[21]
Coghlan, S., Leins, K., Sheldrick, S., Cheong, M., Gooding, P. and D’Alfonso, S. (2023) To Chat or Bot to Chat: Ethical Issues with Using Chatbots in Mental Health. Digital Health, 9, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231183542
[22]
Mennella, C., Maniscalco, U., De Pietro, G. and Esposito, M. (2024) Ethical and Regulatory Challenges of AI Technologies in Healthcare: A Narrative Review. Heliyon, 10, e26297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26297
[23]
Timmons, A.C., Duong, J.B., Simo Fiallo, N., Lee, T., Vo, H.P.Q., Ahle, M.W., et al. (2022) A Call to Action on Assessing and Mitigating Bias in Artificial Intelligence Applications for Mental Health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18, 1062-1096. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916221134490
[24]
Silver, D., Singh, S., Precup, D. and Sutton, R.S. (2021) Reward Is Enough. Artificial Intelligence, 299, Article ID: 103535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artint.2021.103535
