Research Study: Exploring Counseling Clients’ Use of Large Language Models (LLMs) for Mental Health Support
Key Information About this Study
The public use of ChatGPT and other LLMs for self-help is rising, yet little is known about how people in psychotherapy experience using these tools. Our goal for this study is to explore how psychotherapy clients use LLMs for mental-health support, and how they perceive the impact of LLMs on their mood, insight, and therapy progress.
You are being invited to participate in this study. Your participation will involve at least one Zoom interview lasting about 1 hour. You may be invited to take part in additional interviews in the future, but this is optional.
Your participation is voluntary. You may refuse to participate or withdraw at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. Your alternative is to not take part in this study.
The main study procedures include a one-hour interview by Zoom. The risks of this study include emotional discomfort while discussing sensitive topics and a confidentiality breach. The possible direct benefit to you is the opportunity for self-reflection. Additionally, information from this study may help others in the future.
Who Is the Study Team and How Is This Study Funded?
This research study is being conducted by Tony Rousmaniere at Sentio University. The study is funded entirely by Sentio University and is not funded by an outside source.
How Many People Will Take Part in This Study?
About 100 primary participants are expected to participate in this study.
What Is Involved in This Research Study?
You will be asked to participate in one video interview on Zoom lasting about one hour. The text transcript from the interview will be saved. The video and audio from the interview will not be recorded. You may be invited to participate in additional interviews, but this is completely optional.
Will Participating in This Study Benefit Me?
Participating in this study may not benefit you directly, but it will contribute to knowledge that can improve ethical, client-centered integration of AI tools in mental-health care. A possible direct benefit is the opportunity for self-reflection.
What Are the Risks Associated With This Research?
You may find answering some of the questions upsetting, but this is not expected to be different from conversations you might have with trusted people. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer and end the interview at any time.
Another risk is a confidentiality breach. This is minimized through encrypted storage of transcripts and strict access controls.
What Are the Costs of Taking Part in This Study?
There are no costs to you for taking part in this study.
Will There Be Compensation for Participating?
Participants will receive a $30 gift card via email immediately after completing the zoom interview.
What About Confidentiality?
To the extent allowed by law, every effort will be made to keep your personal and medical information confidential. However, total confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Primary and supporting participant data will be stored separately, linked only by a study ID. All data will be kept in HIPAA-compliant encrypted systems.
What About Identifiable Private Information?
Identifiers might be removed from your identifiable private information. After such removal, the information could be used for future research studies or shared with other researchers without your additional consent.
Whom Do You Call if You Have Questions or Problems?
If you have any questions about this study, please contact Tony Rousmaniere at 206-384-8058, trousmaniere@sentio.org.
If you have any questions or complaints, you may contact a person not on the research team at the Biomedical Research Alliance of New York Institutional Review Board at (516) 318-6877 or at www.branyirb.com/concerns-about-research.
STATEMENT OF CONSENT
By signing this form, I confirm that:
• I have read this consent form and all my questions have been answered.
• I can leave this study at any time without giving a reason and without penalty.
• I agree to the collection, use, sharing, and analysis of my personal health information and study information as described.
• I do not give up any legal rights that I would otherwise have if I were not in this study.