Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Patient–Healthcare Relationships: Psychosocial Perspective

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of healthcare through tools that help organise medical information, support clinical decisions, answer common questions, and improve communication. These changes affect more than treatment and efficiency: they can also influence how patients feel, how much they trust healthcare professionals, and whether they feel heard and respected. This paper reviews AI in patient–healthcare relationships from a psychosocial perspective. It considers trust, empathy, privacy, patient autonomy, health literacy, anxiety, accessibility, and the role of clinicians in explaining AI-supported decisions. AI can make some services faster and easier to access, but it may also create distance when communication feels automated or when recommendations are difficult to understand. The paper argues that AI should strengthen—not replace—the human relationship at the centre of care. Responsible use requires transparency, protection of personal information, inclusive design, careful evaluation, and meaningful human oversight..