Clinical Report: AI in Mental Health Care: Patient Use and Implications

Overview

Patients increasingly use generative AI tools for mental health support, with significant implications for clinical practice. Clinicians are encouraged to routinely inquire about this use to better understand patient experiences and integrate findings into care.

Background

The integration of artificial intelligence in mental health care is a growing trend, with many patients seeking support from AI tools. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for clinicians to address potential misinformation and enhance patient care. As AI tools become more prevalent, clinicians must adapt their assessment strategies to include discussions about these technologies.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Over 5 million US youth have sought mental health advice from AI tools.
• Nearly half of adults with mental health conditions reported using AI for support.
• AI tools can provide emotional support, companionship, and psychoeducation.
• Patients may share concerns with AI that they do not disclose to clinicians.
• Risks include misinformation, inappropriate responses to suicidal ideation, and privacy concerns.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should routinely ask patients about their use of AI tools to uncover hidden concerns and integrate these insights into care. Awareness of AI interactions can help address misinformation and improve patient outcomes.

Conclusion

The use of AI in mental health care presents both opportunities and challenges that require careful consideration by clinicians. Ongoing dialogue about AI use can enhance patient safety and care quality.

Related Resources & Content

1. Saba K. & Weeks W.B., JAMA Psychiatry, 2023 -- What Patients Aren’t Telling You: AI in Mental Health Care
2. npj Digital Medicine, 2026 -- Reimagining psychiatric care with agentic AI: promise, challenges, and a roadmap forward
3. Today's Hospitalist, 2025 -- Are you using ‘shadow AI’ in your practice?
4. aace endocrine ai, 2026 -- Medical AI: What shapes patient trust?
5. WHO, 2025 -- Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models
6. the asco post — How to Adapt to the Era of AI and the Changing Interactions With Patients: Lessons From a Low-Resource Setting
7. Efficacy of a Conversational AI Agent for Psychiatric Symptoms
8. A scoping review of large language models for generative tasks in mental health care
9. Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models