Can ChatGPT replace a psychotherapist?

Depression, burn-out, seemingly unsolvable life problems... It is increasingly difficult to find anyone, even in the family, who would listen to one's problems, and psychotherapists They have a lot of work to do.

Can chatbots, controlled by mechanisms, help in such cases as well? artificial intelligence?

Johanna Lehner, a professor of clinical psychology and psychotherapy at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, says that this can help to some extent, especially for young people.

First of all, because such portals are easily accessible, which means that it will be much easier to decide to at least seek help that way. Therefore, according to Professor Lehner, it is a solution "for people who feel resistance to going to psychotherapy, either because of the fear of being 'marked' as mentally ill or because they are ashamed to talk about certain things in general."

Vague complaints and stupid advice

But at the same time, she warns: artificial intelligence modules are far from professional help, even when it comes to behavioral therapy, and especially psychoanalysis.

A small experiment on the ChatGPT platform clearly demonstrated this in the case of possible clinical depression. If the user only complains that "nothing makes him happy" and that he "would prefer to lie in bed all day", but also that he "can't sleep", the computer only gives "smart" advice that it might be good to take a walk in the fresh air or change the menu.

Only if the user sends the computer almost the entire list of symptoms of depression from the medical lexicon (fatigue, irritability, lethargy, sleep disturbances, lack of appetite...), only then will something "click" in the computer and it will recognize the symptoms.

And even then, the answer will be: "It would be good to talk about it with a doctor or a therapist to get the right support."

On the other hand, any more experienced therapist would immediately recognize the first signs of those symptoms.

Better than the experts?

However, the scientists conducted a small test (When ELIZA meets therapists) regarding couples counseling. The couples had to judge whether the answer to one of their questions was written by a psychotherapist or an artificial intelligence.

Answers were written by 13 therapists, and opposite to them, ChatGPT. The questions and answers were evaluated by 830 participants of the experiment - with a surprising outcome. Namely, the assessment was that ChatGPT gives better answers and provides clearer and more specific advice than therapists do.

For Professor Lehner, this is by no means proof of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy.

And Lasse Zander, head of the department of medical sociology at the University of Freiburg, does not see clear evidence in this experiment: "Couples therapy is not any kind of psychotherapy. The goal of therapy is to reduce the symptoms of mental illnesses," the professor reminds.

Couples therapy usually boils down to counseling regarding their obviously disturbed relationships - and then "artificial intelligence" can help to some extent.

Help, but not a replacement

Professor Zander is not completely against artificial intelligence in the case of mental disorders either: "It has huge advantages: it does not consume resources, it is available 24/7 and anyone can contact it relatively anonymously, which is useful for people who fear being stigmatized."

Because, according to his experience, "many people with mental disorders do not go to a psychotherapist even when that help is free."

But he sees in the computer only additional help to "real" therapy. In behavioral therapy it can resemble exercises, in psychoanalysis it can be a kind of substitute available around the clock.

It is often a problem for psychotherapists to announce to their patients that they are going on vacation. In the past, wealthy patients even accompanied Sigmund Freud to his resting place, but that is hardly an option today.