ChatGPT as a psychotherapist for anxiety disorders: An empirical study with anxiety patients

<b>Purpose:</b> this study aims to investigate the role of ChatGPT as a psychotherapist for anxiety disorders, examining its effectiveness, acceptability, and potential benefits among individuals with anxiety disorders. <b>Methods:</b> a quasi-experimental design was adopted, involving a 4-week intervention where participants used ChatGPT as a therapeutic tool. The study included outpatients aged above 18 years from public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. A total of 399 participants completed a survey questionnaire that focused on their experiences with AI-based psychotherapy (six items), perceptions of ChatGPT (four items), and its role in different therapy modalities for anxiety management (seven items). Measures were taken to ensure the validity and reliability of responses by using Cronbach's alpha reliability testing (> 0.7), including the use of a translated and verified questionnaire. <b>Results:</b> majority received prior therapy (89.6%), reporting severe anxiety symptoms (36.1%). ChatGPT was widely used and perceived as accurate by 91.2% of users. Concerns included privacy (67.2%) and ethics (64.9%). Statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> < .05) in perceptions of ChatGPT for anxiety disorders were observed. While urban residents generally rated ChatGPT more positively, females consistently reported higher levels of trustworthiness, effectiveness, and coherence in guidance compared to males. <b>Conclusion:</b> ChatGPT has the potential to complement traditional psychotherapeutic approaches and enhance access to quality mental health care.