Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a useful support tool in the field of online psychotherapy. At the same time, anxiety is one of the most widespread mental health conditions globally, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is particularly complex to treat due to its chronic and pervasive nature. In recent years, the rise of online psychotherapy platforms has opened up new possibilities for integrating advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, into the therapeutic process. This article explores a clinical case in which a therapist used an AI system to monitor and analyze the progress of a patient with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), offering personalized and flexible support. The mechanisms by which AI can improve treatment are illustrated, along with a reflection on potential future developments of these technologies in the mental health field, demonstrating how AI can help enhance the effectiveness of therapy.
Clinical Case
Patient:
A 32-year-old woman, referred to as the Patient, began an online therapy journey to address Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The Patient reported persistent anxiety symptoms, difficulty managing work-related stress, and insomnia issues linked to intrusive thoughts.
Therapist:
A mental health professional experienced in using digital technologies in psychotherapeutic treatment, referred to as the Therapist. The Therapist decided to integrate an Artificial Intelligence assistant into the therapy to monitor the Patient’s emotional state and provide personalized support between sessions.
Session Description
During one of the initial sessions, the Patient expressed feelings of nervousness and stress, primarily related to work pressure. The Therapist activated the AI system to analyze previous session transcripts and the Patient’s entries in her digital diary.
Emotional Language Analysis:
The AI detected an increase in the use of words like “worried,” “stressed,” and “overwhelmed” in recent weeks, especially in reference to work. The analysis also showed frequent mentions of sleep difficulties and intrusive thoughts at night.
The Therapist discussed these findings with the Patient, confirming that the areas identified by the AI indeed represented the main sources of anxiety.
Implementation of AI-Supported Therapeutic Tools
The Therapist suggested that the Patient use a thought journal based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), integrated with the AI system. The AI would analyze the journal entries to identify negative thinking patterns, such as catastrophizing and overgeneralization.
Continuous Monitoring:
Whenever the Patient felt overwhelmed or anxious, she was encouraged to write in the journal. The AI would analyze the data and provide feedback to both the Patient and the Therapist, which would then be discussed in subsequent sessions.
Additional Support:
If the AI detected a significant increase in anxiety, it would suggest the Patient schedule an additional session with the Therapist. The AI would ask if the Patient was available for this session and, if she agreed, it would analyze the Therapist’s schedule to find the earliest available date, organizing the appointment.
Alternatively, the AI would offer the Patient the option to do a brief check-in, managed by the AI itself, which would guide her through relaxation exercises or anxiety management techniques. The Therapist would then receive a detailed report on these check-ins to discuss the results during the next session.
Results and Discussion
Over the following weeks, the Patient regularly used the thought journal, and the AI continued to monitor her emotional state. Thanks to this support, the Patient began to recognize and address her negative thinking patterns with greater awareness.
When the AI detected particularly high anxiety peaks, the Patient agreed to schedule additional sessions, which were organized quickly and efficiently thanks to the automated system. In moments of less intense anxiety, the Patient opted for AI-guided check-ins, finding them useful for managing anxiety between sessions.
The Therapist noticed a significant improvement in the Patient’s anxiety management, with a decrease in nighttime worries and an increased ability to handle work-related stress. The AI proved to be a valuable tool not only for monitoring emotional states but also for offering timely and personalized support.
Conclusions
The integration of Artificial Intelligence into online therapy has demonstrated the potential to improve the effectiveness of treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder, offering continuous monitoring and personalized support. The clinical case presented illustrates how AI can not only identify problematic thinking patterns but also provide timely and flexible interventions that enhance the patient’s response to treatment.
Clinical Implications:
The use of AI in psychotherapy could become a key element in personalizing treatments and responding more quickly to patient needs. However, it is essential that therapists maintain a central role in the therapeutic process, using AI as a complementary tool.
Excerpt from the Report of the Third Session
Here is an excerpt from the report of the third meeting with the patient, illustrating, through the session summary, how the intervention was structured.
Bibliography
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Photo by Alex Knight
