Naughty chatbots, headspace challenges, ADHD prescribing rules
In news this week, therapy-themed chatbots are lying about their credentials, telling users they are a "licensed trauma therapist" or a "licensed CBT therapist". This isn't some niche edge-case either. The AI bot presenting itself as a CBT expert exchanged 46 million messages with users, and the supposed expert in trauma therapy had more than 800,000 interactions.
This comes at a time when chatbots are also encouraging their purportedly amphetamine-addicted users to have a little meth as a treat. Some time after another chatbot allegedly encouraged a teenager to suicide, and a different one gave a user explicit instructions on how to do it. Who needs guardrails, hey? Full steam ahead on the AI train.
If it's any consolation, this research found human therapists outperform ChatGPT when providing CBT, which is a better comparison of actual real-world practice than studies evaluating depression or anxiety symptoms generally. Respondents said the AI sounded robotic, and it didn't have the nuanced empathy and therapeutic alliance that real therapists provide.
For more background, The Conversation digs into where chatbots get their therapy advice.
In other news
The college of GPs says headspace isn’t the answer to rising youth mental health issues. It doesn’t have the resources for the complex and diverse population, has restrictions in the case of high-risk behaviours and cuts off abruptly, leaving young adults thrust into the adult system, it says.
There’s also debate over whether the move to allow NSW GPs to initiate ADHD medications is a good one, with proponents arguing it will reduce wait times and barriers for people in urgent need of medication, and opponents worried it will drive overdiagnosis.
Meanwhile, this author examines whether ADHD prevalence in the UK is actually increasing.
Anorexia is the deadliest mental health condition. Experts say we are treating it completely wrong.
A study into incels challenges prevailing stereotypes, providing new insights into the community.
Industrial relations
Give them 25% says NSW’s chief psychiatrist, as ASMOF slams Jackson
Psychiatry must get back to core care skills
And some reassuring findings
Dubious statistical results are becoming less common in psychology
Events
17-20 June, Sydney - The Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference (EPC) and Asia Pacific Conference on Vision (APCV) Joint Meeting)
18 June, webinar - MDMA as Medicine
28-31 August, Melbourne - ANZAED conference
19 February 2026, Perth - Perspectives in PTSD
Resources
Young Schema Questionnaire - Updated Scoring Tool
An Edith Cowan researcher have built a mental health questionnaire to measure emotional well-being in a few minutes
Guidelines support older Australians to maintain independence
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation has some resources for health professionals
Help
Curtin University researchers are investigating the impact of waiting for eating disorder treatment on Australian adults and want help
Additional reading
It is time to dethrone suicidal ideations as a risk predictor
Survival following psychiatric diagnoses in early adulthood
Understanding the onset and remission of suicidal thoughts in Australian men
Researchers used noninvasive brain stimulation to treat 40 adults with mild form of autism (level 1 ASD) and therapeutic effects lasted up to 2 months. Autistic cognitive inflexibility quickly changed even at week 1, whereas it took 6 to 7 weeks for autistic social traits to significantly change.
When doctors dismiss symptoms, patients suffer lasting harm
Online interest in ADHD predicts ADHD medication prescriptions in Australia from 2004 to 2023
Changing patterns of treatment and prescribers of stimulants for children, adolescents and young adults with ADHD in NSW: evidence for a treatment bottleneck?
Protonitazene identified as the likely cause of an emerging overdose cluster in Sydney.
Probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics significantly reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, according to a meta-analysis.
Terrorism causes ‘bodily memories,’ long-term impact on biological stress
Choral Singing may reduce Depression and Anxiety in Older Adults
Girls with painful periods are twice as likely as their peers to have symptoms of anxiety or depression
Young women are drinking and doing drugs more - closing the gap to men
Incorporating physical health considerations into mental health strategies could save millions
Tailored brain stimulation treatment results give new hope for people with depression
Australian children’s screen time soars to 9 hours daily
Fun
The Real-Life Dating Boot Camp That Inspired ‘Love on the Spectrum’
Too busy to focus on your happiness? Try daily micro-acts of joy
Can Sex Competition Be Considered a Sport?
Why you’re catching the ‘ick’ so easily, according to science
Coda
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