Mental Health News for Therapists
According to the U.S. surgeon general, mental health is the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and providing the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity.
The term mental illness refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders-health conditions characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior associated with distress or impaired functioning.
A person struggling with his or her mental health may experience stress, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, addiction, ADHD or learning disabilities, mood disorders, or other mental illnesses of varying degrees. Therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners or physicians can help manage mental illness with treatments such as therapy, counseling, or medication.
Mental illnesses are categorized as follows:
Neurosis: Also known as psychoneuroses, neuroses are minor mental illnesses like phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and anxiety disorders, among others.
Psychosis: Psychoses are major mental illnesses in which the mental state impairs thoughts, perception and judgement. Delusions and hallucinations are marked symptoms. This may require the use of psychotic drugs as well as counseling techniques in order to treat them.
Psychologists say patients are turning to chatbots as mental health professionals
New APA guide lays out ways to use AI for mental health information safely
Washington — More than three-quarters of psychologists report their patients are discussing artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. Patients are using the technology to seek additional support for their mental health, to find a diagnosis or for friendship and intimate relationships, the survey found.
The Chatbots and Mental Health Survey, conducted by APA among more than 1,200 licensed psychologists in the U.S., found that many patients appear to be supplementing their relationship with a mental health professional with advice from AI.
Nearly two in five psychologists (39%) have had conversations with patients who used AI to self-diagnose, while approximately a third of psychologists said their patients are turning to AI for help with self-discipline, affirmations, or behavioral reminders (34%), to assist with their treatment (33%) and to act as an additional mental health professional (35%).
This may not reflect the full scope of people turning to chatbots for mental health advice or companionship, as the survey only captures psychologists’ interactions with their patients. Many more people may be using AI chatbots for mental health advice without critical guidance from a mental health professional. Continue reading this article.
