Psychology

“It happened to be the perfect thing”: experiences of generative AI chatbots for mental health

S. Siddals, J. Torous, et al.

Discover the transformative potential of generative AI chatbots in mental health, as researched by Steven Siddals, John Torous, and Astrid Coxon. Participants in this study found joy, emotional sanctuary, and insightful guidance through their interactions, revealing a promising avenue for therapeutic engagement that still calls for further exploration on safety and effectiveness.

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Playback language: English

Index

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of 19 individuals using generative AI chatbots for mental health. Participants reported high engagement and positive impacts, including improved relationships and healing from trauma. Four themes emerged: emotional sanctuary, insightful guidance (especially regarding relationships), joy of connection, and comparisons with human therapy. While echoing some findings on rule-based chatbots, novel aspects included the joy and deep understanding experienced. Participants highlighted needs for improved safety guardrails, human-like memory, and the chatbot's ability to lead the therapeutic process. Generative AI chatbots show promise but require further research on safety and effectiveness.

Publisher

npj Mental Health Research

Published On

Oct 27, 2024

Authors

Steven Siddals, John Torous, Astrid Coxon

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