Clinicians’ Attitudes and Perceptions on the Adoption of AI in Mental Health Care: Scoping Review - Report - MDSpire
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Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review

  • By

  • Carly Hudson

  • Thuy Linh Phan

  • Marcus Randall

  • September 11, 2026

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Clinical Report: Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on AI in Mental Health

Overview

This scoping review explores healthcare professionals' perspectives on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into mental health services, highlighting key themes such as ethical considerations, clinician trust, and the impact on patient care.

Background

The integration of AI in healthcare is rapidly evolving, particularly in mental health, where the complexities of patient care present unique challenges. Clinicians' perspectives are crucial for the successful implementation of AI technologies, as their acceptance and trust directly influence the adoption of these tools. Ethical considerations, including patient autonomy and data security, are paramount in ensuring that AI enhances rather than undermines the therapeutic relationship.

Data Highlights

The review indicates that no numerical data or trial results were provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • AI implementation in mental health raises concerns about professional responsibility and patient autonomy, as noted in the literature.
  • Clinicians' trust and understanding of AI limitations are critical for its acceptance in practice, supported by various studies.
  • Inappropriate AI advice could negatively impact patient safety and engagement in therapy, as highlighted in the review.
  • Confidentiality and data security are significant concerns during AI system implementation in mental health, according to the findings.
  • Healthcare professionals' perspectives shape the adoption or resistance to AI tools in clinical settings, as discussed in the review.

Clinical Implications

The review emphasizes the need for ongoing education and transparency regarding AI capabilities and limitations to foster acceptance among clinicians.

Conclusion

The perspectives of healthcare professionals are vital in navigating the complexities of AI integration in mental health services, as they directly influence the effectiveness and safety of technological advancements.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Xie Y, Zhai Y, Lu G, Front Med (Lausanne), 2024 -- Evolution of artificial intelligence in healthcare: a 30-year bibliometric study
  2. Hudson C, et al., Artif Intell Health, 2026 -- Use of natural language processing in the emergency department: a clinical overview on the state of the art
  3. Hipgrave L, et al., Front Digit Health, 2025 -- Balancing risks and benefits: clinicians’ perspectives on the use of generative AI chatbots in mental healthcare
  4. Putica A, et al., Psychol Med, 2025 -- Ethical decision-making for AI in mental health: the Integrated Ethical Approach for Computational Psychiatry (IEACP) framework
  5. Scipion CEA, et al., BMJ Open, 2025 -- Barriers to and facilitators of clinician acceptance and use of artificial intelligence in healthcare settings: a scoping review
  6. aace endocrine ai — Scoping review identifies what makes physician-AI collaboration succeed
  7. DIGITAL HEALTH — Artificial intelligence in Malaysian health practice: Perspectives from allied health professionals
  8. Frontiers in Digital Health — Perspectives on healthcare artificial intelligence policy from health equity professionals: findings from an interview study
  9. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) — Patient Concerns Regarding Artificial Intelligence Applications in Health Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis Based on Social Ecological Theory
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  17. The therapeutic effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based chatbots in alleviation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in short-course treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis - ScienceDirect
  18. Effectiveness of AI and rule-based conversational agents for depression, anxiety and stress: A meta-analysis | npj Digital Medicine
  19. Efficacy of a Conversational AI Agent for Psychiatric Symptoms and Digital Therapeutic Alliance: A Randomized Clinical Trial | Trials | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network
  20. Randomized Trial of a Generative AI Chatbot for Mental Health Treatment | NEJM AI
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  22. Systematic review and meta analysis of chatbots in the management of depressive and anxiety symptoms - PMC
  23. AI Act | Shaping Europe’s digital future
  24. Building robust, proportionate, and timely approaches to regulation and evaluation of digital mental health technologies - The Lancet Digital Health

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