The Growing Role and Concerns of AI in Psychology Practice

In recent times, psychologist Winkelspecht chose to delve into artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini, prompted by inquiries from patients keen on integrating these technologies wisely.

"A fascinating issue that arises, especially among the youth and teenagers, is using AI to enhance creativity, refine ideas for essays and presentations, but equally ensuring it's not misused in a manner that contravenes academic integrity," explains Winkelspecht, who operates a child and adolescent psychology practice in Wilmington, Delaware.

"This led me to start personally testing these tools to comprehend their functionality and risks thoroughly," she continues, highlighting her aim to feel assured in her grasp of the tech's pros and cons.

Winkelspecht is part of the 56% of psychologists who have incorporated AI into their professional activities recently, a substantial rise from the 29% documented the previous year. Now, roughly one in three utilizes these tools routinely each month, a figure reflecting a significant increase.

AI aids Winkelspecht in streamlining administrative tasks like drafting templates for communication with collaboration partners, such as schools and pediatricians. While it helps conserve time, she maintains the ability to tailor and adjust the correspondence as necessary.

Efficiency and Emerging Concerns

According to a senior director at the Office of Health Care Innovation at the APA, many psychologists employ AI to optimize writing tasks, design educational assignments, assist in generating reports, or use AI transcription services for documentation.

He points out the advantageous potential of integrating AI into practice efficiency improvements, which could help mitigate burnout and free up more time for patient interaction. This, he explains, is a promising advancement in minimizing the less favorable aspects of their work.

However, as more practitioners adopt AI, there is increased vigilance concerning its role in patient safety and data security.

A significant number of psychologists express trepidations about AI, with over 60% apprehensive about data vulnerabilities, biased content, and societal effects. Hallucinations, where AI outputs erroneous information, are also a major concern.

"Our challenge is to continually equip our members with the tools and knowledge for the responsible and safe integration of these technologies," asserts Wright. "Moreover, there's a necessity to advocate for regulation that prioritizes safety and effectiveness."