Use of AI Chatbots for Mental Health

NCT07658547 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 401022026-BO-E
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn how patients with mental disorders use, perceive, and evaluate generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for mental health-related purposes. The study aims to investigate usage patterns, expectations, experiences, perceived benefits, barriers, and concerns regarding AI chatbots among adults receiving psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• "How do patients with mental disorders use generative AI chatbots in the context of their mental health?"
• "What expectations, attitudes, and experiences do patients have regarding AI chatbots for mental health support?" Participants will:
• Provide electronic informed consent before participation.
• Complete a one-time anonymous online survey lasting approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
• Answer questions about sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, psychological distress, and digital device use.
• Report their expectations regarding AI chatbots for mental health support.
• Provide information about AI chatbot use, including frequency, duration, applications used, and purposes of use.
• Answer questions regarding satisfaction, trust, privacy concerns, perceived problems, and potential future integration of AI chatbots into mental health care.
• Optionally provide qualitative comments and suggestions in open-text fields. There is no intervention, randomization, control group, or comparison arm in this study. The study follows a prospective cross-sectional mixed-methods design using quantitative survey data and qualitative free-text responses.

Conditions

Severe Mental Illness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Percentage of patients who have used generative AI for mental health issues

  up to 6 months

Study Arms (1)

Severe Mental Illness

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Psychiatric outpatient clinics, medical practices, and counseling centers in Berlin/Brandenburg

You may qualify if:

• diagnosed mental illness

You may not qualify if:

• incapable of giving consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane: lead

Study Sites (1)

Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf

Rüdersdorf, Brandenburg, 15562, Germany

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Schwarz

  Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 1 Day
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Head of Mental Health Policy & Digitalization Research Group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2026
• First Posted: June 22, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Locations

DE (1)