Andrew L. Martin, PsyD
Will robots or Artificial Intelligence (AI) completely replace therapists one day? I think so, although probably not in our lifetimes. For now, mental health care includes AI in small ways, such as telehealth, self-help computer applications, and more sophisticated computer programs called digital intervention applications. As AI’s role in mental health care grows, there are a few things consumers should know.
First, AI is already in our lives. AI is just a computer program that can make decisions on its own based on our input and a set of rules. AI is at work when we search for something on the Internet, when we ask a personal digital assistant to do something for us, and when we interact with streaming services on our televisions and computing devices.
So how exactly are AI and technology involved in our mental healthcare? In a number of ways, ranging from very light technology like telehealth (mental health care delivered by telephone, video, or chat), to sophisticated clinical applications or programs for our phones and computers, which respond to our inputs and tell us what psychological skills to practice and how.
Second, we need to consider the effectiveness of the particular AI or technology we use. Generally speaking, the hundreds of self-help applications available for our phones and computers have not been tested for effectiveness. Many of these applications are not designed to cure mental health conditions. They are market-driven products, often developed without any input from behavioral health experts. That said, some of these applications can be helpful, and I routinely recommend specific applications that deal with post-traumatic stress, mindfulness, depression, sleep, and anxiety. These applications help with learning and practicing new skills at home, which helps people feel better sooner.
Then there are digital intervention applications, which are proven to be effective. These applications are tested, just like new medications are tested for approval to be marketed and sold to the public. These are programs you can download and run on your phone, tablet, or computer. The Food and Drug Administration oversees scientific testing of these products, which require a prescription, just like many medications. These applications typically include more AI – that is more interactivity with the user – and they are designed to alleviate mental health symptoms when used in conjunction with formal mental health treatment. Examples of such programs include Sleepio, Somryst, SparkRx, and NightWare.
The third thing to consider is privacy. Digital intervention applications, provided via prescription, generally meet federal privacy requirements. Wellness/Direct-to Consumer applications are not required to meet privacy standards, and personal information breaches have indeed occurred with some of those applications.
Finally, there are some non-prescribed wellness apps that we know are both effective and private, and do not require a prescription. The Veterans Administration (VA) lists those applications on their website https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/mobile-apps. These applications have been researched and tested by the VA, are evidence-based and free to use.
I believe that one day AI will make psychological care easily accessible to everyone, as in Frederik Pohl’s 1977 sci-fi novel Gateway. Until then, high-quality AI applications are helping human therapists help more people faster, especially those who don’t have easy access to weekly psychotherapy visits.
Special thanks to Drs. Sadeh-Sharvit and Wright, whose outstanding presentations informed this article.
Wright, V. (2024, March 29). The Future is Now: How Digital Interventions Could Address the Mental Health Crisis [Conference Presentation]. https://apa.content.online/catalog/product.xhtml?eid-=54830.
Sadeh-Sharvit, S. (2024, March 29). Bringing the Power of Artificial Intelligence to Your Clinical Practice: A Hands-on Guide [Conference Presentation]. https://apa.content.online/catalog/-product.xhtml?eid=54830.