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Live Webinar

The Clinical Ethics of AI in Mental Health

Marlynn Wei, MD, JD
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Date & Time

Description

This presentation on the clinical ethics of generative AI (artificial intelligence) introduces a four-domain framework of mental health risk associated with AI chatbot use, including emotional attachment, reality-testing impairment, crisis safety concerns, and ethical issues such as privacy, bias, and confidentiality. Clinicians will be able to recognize patterns of maladaptive or higher-risk AI use that warrant clinical assessment and understand the ethical risks of AI use in therapeutic contexts, including both client-facing and clinician-facing AI.

Educational Goal

The educational goal for this presentation is to educate clinicians how to evaluate and engage with AI systems ethically, including preserving patient privacy, confidentiality, and the therapeutic alliance. They will be able to identify and analyze patterns of maladaptive or higher-risk AI use warranting clinical assessment.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Identify patterns of maladaptive or higher-risk generative AI use.

  • Describe a four-domain framework of mental health risks associated with AI chatbot use, including emotional attachment, reality-testing impairment, crisis safety concerns, and ethical issues, such as privacy and bias.

  • Analyze the ethical risks of shadow AI use in clinical contexts, including patient and clinician AI use in therapeutic contexts and considerations of informed consent, confidentiality, and the therapeutic alliance.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Nurse
  • Physician
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Marlynn Wei, MD, JD
Dr. Marlynn Wei, MD, JD, is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, psychodynamic psychotherapist, and author working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health. With a background in law, her work examines emerging clinical and ethical issues related to AI, including AI therapy, cognitive impact, and digital immortality. Dr. Wei has testified before the U.S. Congress on the mental health risks and benefits of AI chatbots and has appeared on Fox Business, PBS, and CBS Mornings. She maintains a psychotherapy practice in New York City and has a forthcoming book with MIT Press, Unreal: Finding Truth in the Age of AI Psychosis.

Financially Sponsored By

  • The Menninger Clinic