Use of AI Chatbots for Mental Health - an Online Survey of Patients With Severe Mental Illness

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.