To assess psychiatrists' experiences with and attitudes toward genAI-based chatbots in psychiatric practice in Germany.
Approach:
Study Design: An exploratory mixed-methods study utilizing an online survey targeting practicing psychiatrists in Germany.
Recruitment: Participants were recruited from public psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric departments within general hospitals, and outpatient psychiatric practices across Berlin and Brandenburg, expanding nationwide via the DGPPN newsletter.
Key Findings:
Psychiatrists are experimenting with genAI tools for various clinical tasks.
Concerns regarding accuracy, bias, liability, and privacy risks are prevalent among psychiatrists.
There is a lack of empirical research on psychiatrists' use of genAI in non-English speaking countries.
Interpretation:
Understanding psychiatrists' engagement with genAI is essential for developing safe and ethical guidance for practice, especially given the unique challenges in mental healthcare.
Limitations:
The study's sample may not fully represent all psychiatrists in Germany due to its convenience sampling method.
Responses were anonymous, limiting the ability to track individual recruitment phases.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the need for further research on the integration of genAI in psychiatric practice, particularly in the context of regulatory and ethical considerations.
