Balancing risks and benefits: clinicians' perspectives on the use of generative AI chatbots in mental healthcare

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Artificial Intelligence
• Digital Health

Background:

• Generative AI chatbots are increasingly used in mental healthcare.
• These tools aim to support both clients and clinicians.
• Understanding clinician perspectives on AI integration is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore mental health clinicians' views on the risks and benefits of integrating generative AI chatbots.
• To gather insights for future AI tool development in mental health.

Main Methods:

• Virtual interviews were conducted with 23 mental health clinicians.
• A mix of open-ended and scale-based questions were used.
• A demonstration of chatbot capabilities was presented during interviews.

Main Results:

• Clinicians identified benefits like improved accessibility, multilingual support, and client engagement.
• Identified risks include lack of regulation, privacy concerns, and limited understanding of client context.
• No significant difference was found in perceived risks versus benefits, nor was the demonstration influential.

Conclusions:

• The perceived balance of risks and benefits is highly contextual.
• Factors such as use case and population group influence AI chatbot integration.
• Clinician insights are vital for developing responsible AI tools in mental health.