Attitudes towards Artificial intelligence (AI) in psychotherapy: Artificial Intelligence in Psychotherapy Scale (AIPS)

Objective: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly explored for its potential applications in psychotherapy; however, whether individuals will adopt these applications and what they expect from them can only be understood by identifying their attitudes towards AI. Therefore, there is a need to develop tools that measure attitudes towards its use. This study aims to create a robust psychometric scale, the Artificial Intelligence in Psychotherapy Scale (AIPS), to assess these attitudes.

Method: The sample consisted of 723 participants, 372 females and 351 males, aged between 18 and 55 years.

Results: Exploratory Factor Analysis identified a three-factor model - risks and limitations, technical advantages, and personal advantages - that explained 52% of the variance. Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the model with acceptable fit indices. The validation of AIPS was assessed through the Young Internet Addiction Scale, the Scale of Attitudes Towards Seeking Psychological Help, and the Basic Personality Traits Inventory. Reliability analysis yielded Cronbach's alpha values of .89, .84, and .72 for the three factors.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that individuals' attitudes towards AI in psychotherapy emphasize perceived benefits and risks. The AIPS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing such attitudes within the Turkish population, providing valuable insights into the integration of AI into psychotherapy.