Digital Mental Health: Role of Artificial  Intelligence in Psychotherapy

Overview

Journal Ann Neurosci

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Nov 15

PMID 39544658

Authors

Sandhya Bhatt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: It is estimated that 6%-7% of the population suffers from mental disorders. WHO reported that one in four families is likely to have at least one member with a behavioural or mental disorder. Post-pandemic, the world has experienced a huge surge in mental health issues. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to access the available mental health services due to constraints such as lack of financial assistance, living in remote areas, fear of being stigmatised and lack of awareness. The emergence of online mental health services could solve some of these problems, as these are easily accessible to people from anywhere, are cost effective and also reduce the fear of being judged or labelled. Lots of efforts are being made today to integrate artificial intelligence with the traditional form of psychotherapy. The role of chatbots for mental health services in the form of e-therapies has been found to be highly relevant and important.

Summary: The present study aims to systematically review the evidence on the use of AI-based methods for treating mental health issues. Overall, 95 studies were extracted using some of the popular databases such as Mendeley, PubM, INFO and DOAJ. The terms used in the search included 'psychotherapy', 'online therapies', 'artificial intelligence' and 'online counselling'. Finally, after screening, 13 studies were selected based on the eligibility criteria. Most of these studies had employed conversational agents as an intervention. The results obtained showed the significant positive consequences of using AI-based approaches in treating mental health issues.

Key Message: The study strongly suggests integrating AI with the traditional form of counselling.

Citing Articles

The use of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy: development of intelligent therapeutic systems.

Spytska L BMC Psychol. 2025; 13(1):175.

PMID: 40022267 PMC: 11871827. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-02491-9.

References

Hennemann S, Bohme K, Kleinstauber M, Baumeister H, Kuchler A, Ebert D . Internet-based CBT for somatic symptom distress (iSOMA) in emerging adults: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2022; 90(4):353-365. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000707. View

Bisby M, Scott A, Hathway T, Dudeney J, Fisher A, Gandy M . Sudden gains in therapist-guided versus self-guided online treatments for anxiety or depression. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2022; 90(11):861-871. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000771. View

Jacobson N, Nemesure M . Using Artificial Intelligence to Predict Change in Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in a Digital Intervention: Evidence from a Transdiagnostic Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 295:113618. PMC: 7839310. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113618. View

Gaffney H, Mansell W, Edwards R, Wright J . Manage Your Life Online (MYLO): a pilot trial of a conversational computer-based intervention for problem solving in a student sample. Behav Cogn Psychother. 2013; 42(6):731-46. DOI: 10.1017/S135246581300060X. View

Kloos N, Austin J, van t Klooster J, Drossaert C, Bohlmeijer E . Appreciating the Good Things in Life During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Evaluation of a Gratitude App. J Happiness Stud. 2022; 23(8):4001-4025. PMC: 9540053. DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00586-3. View

Thabrew H, Boggiss A, Lim D, Schache K, Morunga E, Cao N . Well-being app to support young people during the COVID-19 pandemic: randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2022; 12(5):e058144. PMC: 9121135. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058144. View

Husain Z, Datta S, Ghosh S, Dutta M . Change in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study of residents of Indian metropolitan cities. J Ment Health. 2023; 32(5):879-889. DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2023.2182417. View

Barnett A, Savic M, Pienaar K, Carter A, Warren N, Sandral E . Enacting 'more-than-human' care: Clients' and counsellors' views on the multiple affordances of chatbots in alcohol and other drug counselling. Int J Drug Policy. 2020; 94:102910. PMC: 7550115. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102910. View

Inkster B, Sarda S, Subramanian V . An Empathy-Driven, Conversational Artificial Intelligence Agent (Wysa) for Digital Mental Well-Being: Real-World Data Evaluation Mixed-Methods Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018; 6(11):e12106. PMC: 6286427. DOI: 10.2196/12106. View

10.

Kyrios M, Ahern C, Fassnacht D, Nedeljkovic M, Moulding R, Meyer D . Therapist-Assisted Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Progressive Relaxation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2018; 20(8):e242. PMC: 6105869. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.9566. View

11.

Danieli M, Ciulli T, Mousavi S, Riccardi G . A Conversational Artificial Intelligence Agent for a Mental Health Care App: Evaluation Study of Its Participatory Design. JMIR Form Res. 2021; 5(12):e30053. PMC: 8686486. DOI: 10.2196/30053. View

12.

Lenhard F, Sauer S, Andersson E, Mansson K, Mataix-Cols D, Ruck C . Prediction of outcome in internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: A machine learning approach. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2017; 27(1). PMC: 6877165. DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1576. View

13.

Bennion M, Hardy G, Moore R, Millings A . E-therapies in England for stress, anxiety or depression: what is being used in the NHS? A survey of mental health services. BMJ Open. 2017; 7(1):e014844. PMC: 5278266. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014844. View

14.

Ghosh A, Cherian R, Wagle S, Sharma P, Kannan K, Bajpai A . An Unguided, Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention (TreadWill) in a Lower Middle-Income Country: Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2023; 25:e41005. PMC: 10173046. DOI: 10.2196/41005. View

15.

de Mello F, de Souza S . Psychotherapy and Artificial Intelligence: A Proposal for Alignment. Front Psychol. 2019; 10:263. PMC: 6378280. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00263. View

Digital Mental Health: Role of Artificial Intelligence in Psychotherapy

Digital Mental Health: Role of Artificial  Intelligence in Psychotherapy