Does the Digital Therapeutic Alliance Exist? Integrative Review

Mental health disorders significantly impact global populations, prompting the rise of digital mental health interventions, such as artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots, to address gaps in access to care. This review explores the potential for a "digital therapeutic alliance (DTA)," emphasizing empathy, engagement, and alignment with traditional therapeutic principles to enhance user outcomes.

The primary objective of this review was to identify key concepts underlying the DTA in AI-driven psychotherapeutic interventions for mental health. The secondary objective was to propose an initial definition of the DTA based on these identified concepts.