ChatGPT in Behavioral Health: Game Changer or Threat?

ChatGPT is quickly transforming behavioral health. However, many providers are anxious to see how this innovation unfolds. With any new technology, there’s always a dark side and a lot is on the line here.

Earlier this week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman urged regulation of artificial intelligence during a Senate panel hearing, describing the technology’s current boom as a potential “printing press moment” but one that requires safeguards. Through experimentation with ChatGPT personally and with clients, I can understand the hype.

With the capabilities of ChatGPT or ChatGPT-4 seemingly limited only by human imagination, it’s only natural to wonder how it can be used to revolutionize behavioral healthcare and mental wellbeing? Or how might ChatGPT affect the intrinsic value of the patient/provider relationship, impact treatment options, or accelerate outcomes?

How can ChatGPT significantly impact behavioral health??

• Access to Care:?ChatGPT can improve accessibility to behavioral health services by providing support and information to a larger population. Many individuals may not have access to in-person therapy or counseling due to various reasons such as location, cost, or stigma. ChatGPT can bridge this gap by offering a readily available and anonymous platform for individuals to seek guidance and support.

• 24/7 Support:?Behavioral health issues can arise at any time, and having access to support around the clock is crucial. ChatGPT can provide continuous availability, allowing individuals to seek assistance whenever they need it. This can be particularly helpful during crises or when individuals are unable to reach out to a human therapist immediately.

• Information and Education:?ChatGPT can serve as a valuable source of information and education about behavioral health topics. It can provide explanations, definitions, coping strategies, and general advice related to various mental health conditions. This can help individuals gain a better understanding of their own mental health or that of their loved ones, potentially reducing stigma and promoting early intervention.

• Emotional Support:?While ChatGPT cannot replace the human connection and empathy provided by mental health professionals, it can offer some level of emotional support. Through empathetic responses and active listening, ChatGPT can create a safe space for individuals to express their feelings and concerns. This can be particularly beneficial for those who are hesitant or uncomfortable discussing their emotions with another person.

• Screening and Triage:?ChatGPT can assist in screening and triaging individuals with behavioral health concerns. By asking relevant questions and analyzing responses, ChatGPT can help identify individuals who may require immediate intervention or referral to professional mental health services. This can help prioritize limited resources and ensure timely assistance for those in need.

• Self-Care:?ChatGPT can facilitate self-reflection and self-care practices by engaging individuals in meaningful conversations about their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through guided prompts and inquiries, ChatGPT can encourage individuals to explore their own mental well-being, develop self-awareness, and adopt healthier coping mechanisms.

• Enhancing the Patient Experience:?Telehealth technology has already made it easier than ever for patients to engage with their providers and get the care they need. Beyond the ability to interact with a provider through video or over the phone, many telehealth platforms offer patient portals, scheduling services, and more. ChatGPT can take this experience to the next level. Currently, developers can integrate the technology into their own apps, third-party point solutions, or platforms such as ShareMy.Health through an API. This can take the shape of a sophisticated virtual assistant or chatbot that can assist providers by being a ‘first point of contact’ with patients. A ChatGPT-enhanced chatbot can help patients get quick answers to their questions, conduct and assessment, seamlessly schedule appointments, and send patients reminders for medication. ChatGPT may generate full transcripts of meetings for both the patient’s and the provider’s records and identify action items for the next meeting, keeping everyone aligned on what needs to be done outside of the weekly therapy session.

Will ChatGPT come for the jobs of our behavioral health providers?

Most likely not, but they may start hearing “That’s what I read on ChatGPT” a lot more often, as patients use it to learn more about and diagnose their conditions. The tool can accelerate the performance of doctors, coaches, and providers, as the tool’s capacity to synthesize and interpret medical information can help healthcare providers save valuable time and afford to care for more patients.

Beyond report writing, healthcare organizations can use ChatGPT to draft preauthorization letters to insurance providers and care instructions for patients following a therapy session or procedure. When so many healthcare workers consider administrative tasks as a primary cause of burnout, using this technology to automate processes (or reduce the hours spent per week doing such tasks) can help healthcare workers stay mentally engaged and focused on delivering care to their patients. Open AI’s new GPT-4 can be extremely helpful in terms of when the patient signs admission papers to diagnosis, determining a treatment path, to finalizing paperwork.

What can’t be solved by ChatGPT??

• Bias:?Like humans, ChatGPT learns from large datasets that may include biased or incomplete information, which can lead to inaccurate or unfair recommendations for patients, especially those from underrepresented groups. Human healthcare professionals, however, undergo training and have access to resources that combat inherent biases.

• Lack of empathy:?Despite the chatbot’s responses appearing warm and welcoming, it cannot empathize with users or understand their emotions, making it ill-equipped to handle sensitive conversations.

• Lack of experience:?ChatGPT can’t replace the intrinsic value of the patient/physician relationship, and it lacks the wisdom providers possess to consider the needs of the patient when developing a treatment or care plan. It's important to note that ChatGPT is an AI language model and not a substitute for professional mental health care. Like the ShareMy.Health platform, it should be seen as a complement to traditional therapy or counseling rather than a replacement.?

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Is ChatGPT or GPT-4 the next big technological advancement in behavioral health?

Many healthcare providers believe that ChatGPT can revolutionize the healthcare industry—if used effectively. This assumes that data accuracy, security, and privacy are bulletproof. Established rules and regulations to govern will be needed. The million-dollar question is how will the healthcare industry, government, and business come to agreement on deploying AI in specific use-cases, not regulating the technology itself? This all sounds promising, but the adoption of applications and benefits of ChatGPT and GPT-4 will take some time and good old fashioned change management.

The future can never be comprehended but it can be worked upon for a better success. It’s easy to say that the future of healthcare is looking good.

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