Artificial intelligence in mental health: Professionals’ attitudes towards AI as a psychotherapist

Nowadays, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used in the healthcare field, especially to identify diagnosis and treatment. Yet, mental health professionals (e.g., counselors, psychiatrics, and psychotherapists) are skeptical towards AI for practice. Some mental health professionals harbor negative attitudes towards AI because it lacks feelings, emotions, and active listening, or they are not confident in their own ability to use technology. Moreover, attitudes towards technology may be influenced by professionals’ methodological approach, which may be more or less open to automatization or informatization of activities. In a preliminary study, 100 mental health professionals were presented with a description of a futuristic AI that could play the role of a psychotherapist and treat mental health patients, then they filled out a questionnaire on perceived usefulness, performance and other attitudes relevant to technology acceptance research. We hypothesize that methodological approach to psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral vs. psychodynamic vs. systemic-relational) would be associated with attitudes towards AI in mental health. Results showed that professionals with a cognitive behavioral approach were more positive than the others regarding AI. In particular, cognitive psychotherapists evidenced higher belief of utility and desirability towards AI. In addition, they were more comfortable with AI than others. AI tools should be developed cautiously, taking into account professionals’ attitudes and viewpoints.