Public Health Risk Management, Policy, and Ethical Imperatives in the Use of AI Tools for Mental Health Therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The deployment of large language models (LLMs) in mental health therapy presents a compelling yet deeply fraught opportunity to address widespread disparities in access to psychological care. Recent empirical evidence reveals that these AI systems exhibit substantial shortcomings when confronted with complex clinical contexts.

Methods

This paper synthesizes key findings from a critical analysis of LLMs operating in therapeutic roles and argues for the urgent establishment of comprehensive risk management frameworks, policy interventions, and ethical protocols governing their use.

Results

LLMs tested in simulated therapeutic settings frequently exhibited stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health conditions and responded inappropriately to acute clinical sy

SUBMITTER: Ohu FC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12609870 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature