Therapists Urged to Screen for AI Chatbot Use as Mental Health Tool

A JAMA Psychiatry paper urges clinicians to routinely ask patients whether they use AI chatbots for emotional support or health information, arguing that such use can reveal how people cope with anxiety, depression, or relationship stress—and whether chatbots supplement or substitute therapy. Experts caution that AI tools are not therapy and may encourage avoidance of difficult conversations. The World Health Organization is forming a global consortium to guide responsible AI use in health, underscoring governance needs as AI tools proliferate.