Large Language Model-based Chatbots and Agentic AI for Mental Health Counseling: A Systematic Review of Methodologies, Evaluation Frameworks, and Ethical Safeguards.

BACKGROUND: Large language model (LLM)-based chatbots have rapidly emerged as tools for digital mental health (MH) counseling. However, evidence on their methodological quality, evaluation rigor, and ethical safeguards remains fragmented, limiting in…

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