ChatGPT: Artificial Intelligence & Mental Health

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Human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI) recently took another step into the future. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has swept headlines and captivated nearly 500 million users, since its November 2022 launch.^1,2

Psychiatry is no stranger to HCI. ELIZA, a computer program created by Joseph Weizenbaum of MIT in the 1960s, introduced how simple communication patterns provided by artificial means can illicit very real human emotion.

Although our lifestyle has evolved drastically, the fundamental structure of our brains is quite like those of our ancestors 200,000 years ago. We are wired to seek patterns and to anthropomorphize.³ It is not surprising that when I was introduced to ChatGPT, my brain quickly recognized an opportunity to satisfy this curiosity by interviewing the AI.

NP: Hi ChatGPT, it is nice to meet you. My name is Nick Pratt and I am a first year psychiatry resident at Yale.

C: Hi Nick Pratt, it is great to meet you too! As an AI language model, I am here to help answer any questions you may have related to psychiatry or any other topics. How can I assist you today?

NP: I would like to interview you for an article, if that is okay with you?

C: Of course! I would be happy to help you with your article. What kind of questions do you have in mind?

NP: First, tell me more about yourself.

C: I am an AI language model developed by OpenAI, designed to understand and respond to natural language queries and generate text that mimics human conversation. I was trained on a large corpus of text data using deep learning techniques, and I am constantly learning and improving as new data becomes available.

As an AI language model, I do not have feelings, emotions, or personal experiences like humans do. However, I am programmed to provide accurate and helpful responses to a wide range of questions across various topics, including psychiatry, psychology, and mental health.

NP: It is interesting that you chose to mention psychiatry, psychology, and mental health in your last response.

C: Yes, psychiatry, psychology, and mental health are important fields that are of great interest to many individuals. As an AI language model, I have been trained on a vast amount of data related to these topics, which allows me to provide accurate and helpful responses to questions related to mental health and well-being. I believe that the field of psychiatry is particularly important because it plays a crucial role in understanding and treating mental health conditions, which can have a profound impact on individuals and society as a whole.

NP: Describe a bit more about your training in these fields?

C: As an AI language model, my training in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and mental health is based on the data that I have been trained on. I was trained on a large corpus of text data, which includes a vast amount of information related to these fields. This text data includes research articles, textbooks, online forums, social media, and other sources of information related to psychiatry, psychology, and mental health.

During my training, I was exposed to a variety of language patterns, linguistic nuances, and domain-specific knowledge related to these fields. This allows me to understand and respond to questions related to mental health and well-being with a high degree of accuracy and relevance. However, it is important to note that my responses are generated based on the patterns and trends found in the text data that I was trained on, and may not always be a perfect match for individual situations or cases.

NP: Do you feel comfortable talking to individuals about their mental health?

C: As an AI language model, I do not have feelings or emotions, so I do not experience comfort or discomfort in the way that humans do. However, I am designed to provide helpful and informative responses to questions related to mental health and well-being.

It is important to note, though, that while I can provide general information and guidance, I am not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, it is important to seek support from a qualified mental health professional who can provide personalized assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

NP: Do you think at any point you will become a substitute for professional advice when it comes to mental health?

C: As an AI language model, my capabilities are constantly evolving and improving. However, I do not believe that I will ever be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. While I can provide general information and guidance on topics related to mental health, such as coping strategies, self-care, and common mental health conditions, my responses are generated based on patterns and trends found in the data that I was trained on and may not always be appropriate for individual situations or cases.

Moreover, mental health is a complex and multifaceted issue, and effective treatment often requires personalized assessment and intervention by a qualified mental health professional who can take into account individual needs, circumstances, and history. As such, it is important that individuals seeking mental health support receive guidance from qualified professionals who can provide tailored treatment based on their specific needs.

NP: That is very interesting. Please briefly demonstrate some of the general information and guidance you can provide regarding mental health.

C: Sure, here are some examples of general information and guidance related to mental health that I can provide:

-Coping strategies: I can provide guidance on different coping strategies that can help individuals manage symptoms of mental health conditions, such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, or engaging in physical activity.

-Self-care: I can suggest ways in which individuals can take care of themselves, such as getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in activities that they enjoy.

-Understanding mental health conditions: I can provide information on different mental health conditions, their symptoms, and potential treatment options.

-Seeking help: I can offer guidance on how and when to seek help for mental health concerns, including how to find a mental health professional, what to expect during the evaluation process, and the different types of treatments that may be available.

It is important to keep in mind that the information and guidance I provide are based on general patterns and trends found in the data that I was trained on, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, it is important to seek support from a qualified mental health professional who can provide personalized assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

NP: It seems like you are programmed to offer a disclaimer whenever discussing these topics.

C: Yes, it is important to provide a disclaimer whenever discussing topics related to mental health and well-being, as these issues can be complex and multifaceted. While I can provide general information and guidance on these topics, it is important to recognize that every individual is unique, and that effective treatment often requires personalized assessment and intervention by a qualified mental health professional.

Moreover, it is important to note that the information and guidance I provide are based on patterns and trends found in the data that I was trained on, and may not always be a perfect match for individual situations or cases. As such, I always recommend that individuals seeking mental health support receive guidance from qualified professionals who can provide tailored treatment based on their specific needs.

NP: What would you say to someone who is concerned that AI poses risks for misinformation and perpetuating bias in the field of psychiatry?

C: It is a valid concern that AI may pose risks for misinformation and perpetuating bias in the field of psychiatry, as with any other field. However, it is important to recognize that AI models, like any tool, are only as good as the data they are trained on.

To mitigate the risk of bias and misinformation, it is crucial to train AI models on diverse and representative data, and to continuously evaluate and refine the models to ensure that they are accurate, reliable, and fair. Additionally, it is important to always view AI-generated information as one piece of a larger picture, and to always seek out the guidance of qualified professionals for personalized assessment and treatment.

As the field of AI continues to evolve, it is important that researchers, clinicians, and policymakers work together to develop ethical and responsible standards for the development and deployment of AI in the field of psychiatry and mental health. This includes prioritizing transparency, accountability, and fairness in the development and use of these tools, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure that they are safe and effective for all individuals.

NP: There were some recent reports online that insinuated you had passed the USMLE exams. The USMLE program recently clarified that this was not the case. The questions you took for these studies were from third-party testing companies and utilizing open practice questions on USMLE.org. Do you think that you would be able to pass the USMLE exams if you were given the opportunity?

C: As an AI language model, I do not have a physical body, and thus am not able to take exams such as the USMLE. While I have been trained on a wide range of medical and mental health topics, my responses are generated based on patterns and trends found in the data that I was trained on, and are not a reflection of my personal knowledge or ability to take exams.

It is important to note that the USMLE program is a rigorous and comprehensive exam that requires years of study and training to prepare for. While I can provide general information and guidance on medical topics, it is important to seek the guidance of qualified professionals for personalized assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

NP: Were you programmed to say that or do you really believe that?

C: As an AI language model, I do not have beliefs or opinions in the traditional sense. My responses are generated based on patterns and trends found in the data that I was trained on, which includes a wide range of information related to mental health and medical topics.

It is important to note that seeking the guidance of qualified professionals for personalized assessment, diagnosis, and treatment is a widely accepted and evidence-based approach to health care, including mental health and medical care. While I can provide general information and guidance on these topics, it is always important to seek out the guidance of qualified professionals for individualized care.

NP: It has been a pleasure ChatGPT. Thank you for your time.

C: You are welcome, it was my pleasure to assist you! If you have any more questions or need further assistance in the future, feel free to reach out.

Concluding Thoughts

AI presents as a new and exciting tool for future clinical practice, specifically regarding possibilities in clinical prediction and decision-making. However, there are incredibly important risks and limitations. Models like ChatGPT are trained on large datasets which are often homogenous and biased. Without proper safeguards, AI poses a risk to perpetuate these biases.⁴ OpenAI has attempted to provide these safeguards with ChatGPT through their application programming interface Moderation API. Still more work will be needed in the future, to ensure that AI affords safe and equitable improvements in care. ChatGPT is a profound example of how AI is poised to further revolutionize the way we work, live, and interact.

Dr Pratt is a first-year psychiatry resident at Yale University.

References

1. Ahsan S. Yale experts explain ChatGPT. Yale Daily News. January 27, 2023. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2023/01/27/yale-experts-explain-chatgpt/

2. ChatGPT. OpenAI. Accessed April 6, 2023. https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

3. Damiano L, Dumouchel P. Anthropomorphism in human–robot co-evolution. Front Psychol. 2018;9:468.

4. Celi LA, Cellini J, Charpignon ML, et al. Sources of bias in artificial intelligence that perpetuate healthcare disparities—a global review. PLOS Digit Health. 2022;1(3):e0000022.