Psychologists promote use of AI amid growing concerns

According to the American Psychological Association's 2025 Physician Pulse Survey, more than half of psychologists have experimented with artificial intelligence tools in their practices in the past year, but nearly all cite concerns about how the technology will impact patients and society.

The annual survey, conducted by APA and its affiliate APA Services, Inc., surveyed 1,742 psychologists and was completed in September 2025. They found that 56% of psychologists reported using an AI tool to support their work at least once in the past 12 months, up from 29% in 2024. Nearly three in 10 psychologists (29%) say they use AI at least once a month, compared to 11% who say the same in 2024. These technologies can support psychologists in a variety of ways, from providing administrative support to enhancing clinical care.

But as psychologists become more familiar with AI, they are also becoming more sensitive to its potential risks. More than nine in 10 psychologists (92%) say they have concerns about the use of AI tools in psychology, most commonly potential data breaches (67% vs. 59% in 2024), unintended social harm (64% vs. 54%), biased inputs and outputs (63% vs. 54%), and lack of rigorous testing to reduce risk (61% vs. 51%). are listed. Inaccurate output or “hallucinations” (60% vs. 44%).

APA CEO Dr. Arthur C. Evans Jr. said, “Artificial intelligence can help alleviate some of the pressures psychologists face, for example by increasing efficiency and improving access to treatment, but human oversight remains essential.” “Patients need to know they can trust their providers to identify and reduce the risks and stigmas associated with using these technologies in their care.”

38% of psychologists are concerned that AI will make some of their jobs redundant in the future, yet few rely on AI to assist with the complex tasks needed to treat patients. Approximately one in ten (8%) psychologists who have used AI say they have used AI to assist with clinical diagnosis, and only 5% say they have used chatbot assistance with patients or clients.

Among psychologists who used AI to support their work, the most common uses included creating emails and other materials (52%), creating content (33%), summarizing clinical notes or papers (32%), and note-taking (22%). These are daily tasks that often require time and energy for psychologists, which they would rather spend interacting with patients. Overall, more than three in five psychologists (62%) say advances in technology are enabling them to work more efficiently and accurately.

“Psychologists are drawn to the field because they have a passion for improving people's lives, but they can waste many hours each day completing paperwork and managing insurance companies' often onerous requirements,” Evans says. “Leveraging safe and ethical AI tools will make psychologists more efficient and able to serve more people.”

Here are APA's recommendations for psychologists before using AI tools to support clinical care:

• Clearly communicate the usage, benefits, and risks of AI tools and obtain informed consent from patients.
• Assess AI tools for potential biases that could exacerbate disparities in mental health outcomes.
• Review AI tools to ensure compliance with relevant data privacy and security laws and regulations.
• Understand how companies providing AI tools use, store, and share patient/customer data.

Despite new technology being used to manage administrative burdens, surveys reveal that psychologists continue to struggle with insurance requirements and treatment demands. Less than two-thirds (62%) of psychologists say they accept some form of insurance, often because reimbursement rates are inadequate or they struggle with pre-authorization requirements, audits, or other administrative issues.

And while stress levels and work-life balance among psychologists have improved since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of all psychologists say they don't have room to take on new patients (46%) or that their patients' symptoms are becoming more severe (45%), showing that the mental health crisis is far from over.

methodology

The APA Practitioner Pulse Survey Series has been conducted annually since 2020. The survey was conducted online using a probability-based random sample and distributed via email. An invitation was sent to a sample of 30,000 people on September 3, 2025, along with several reminder emails to complete the survey. The survey ended on September 29th, with a response rate of 6.6%. Complete methodology is available.