Published October 29, 2026 | Version v1
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Use of AI chatbots for mental health among patients in psychiatric treatment

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • 2. DZPG (German Center for Mental Health), partner site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
  • 3. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • 4. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  • 5. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
  • 6. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Immanuel Hospital Rüdersdorf, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Rüdersdorf, Germany
  • 7. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ernst von Bergmann Hospital, Potsdam, Germany
  • 8. HMU-Health and Medical University, Potsdam, Germany
  • 9. Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • 10. Division of Digital Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
  • 11. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Description

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are widely used for mental health, but data from patients in psychiatric care are scarce. In a survey of 274 patients treated at 13 psychiatric hospitals in Germany, 49% had ever used chatbots for mental health. Among users, 37% had used them while suicidal, 39% had uploaded health data, and 30% had discussed their use with a health professional. Clinicians should routinely ask about chatbot use.

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