There has been a growing research interest in Digital Therapeutic Alliance (DTA) as the field of AI-powered conversational agents are being deployed in mental health care, particularly those delivering CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). Our proposition argues that the current design paradigm which seeks to optimize the bond between a patient in need of support and an AI agent contains a subtle but consequential trap: it risks producing an "appearance of connection" that unintentionally disrupts the fundamental human need for relatedness, which potentially displaces the authentic human relationships upon which long-term psychological recovery depends. We propose a reorientation from designing artificial intelligence tools that simulate relationships to designing AI that scaffolds them. To operationalize our argument, we propose an interdisciplinary model that translates the Responsible AI Six Sphere Framework through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), with a specific focus on the basic psychological need for relatedness. The resulting model offers the technical and often clinical communities a set of relationship-centered design guidelines and relevant provocations for building AI systems that function not just as companions, but as a catalyst for strengthening a patient's entire relational ecology; their connections with therapists, caregivers, family, and peers. In doing so, we discuss a model towards a more sustainable ecosystem of relationship-centered AI in mental health care.

翻译：随着人工智能驱动的对话代理在心理健康领域（尤其是提供认知行为疗法（CBT）的场景中）的部署日益增多，学界对数字治疗联盟（DTA）的研究兴趣持续增长。我们提出，当前旨在优化需要支持的患者与AI代理之间纽带的设计范式存在微妙但具有重要后果的陷阱：它可能制造出“虚假联结表象”，无意中破坏人类对关联性的根本需求，进而可能取代长期心理康复所依赖的真实人际关系。我们主张将设计方向从模拟人际关系的AI工具转向能够支撑人际关系的AI系统。为具象化这一论点，我们提出一个跨学科模型——通过自我决定理论（SDT）的视角重新诠释负责任的AI六领域框架，并特别聚焦于关联性这一基本心理需求。该模型为技术界和临床界提供了一套以关系为中心的设计指南及相关议题启发性问题，指导构建不仅充当陪伴者、更能强化患者整个关系生态（包括与治疗师、照护者、家人及同伴的联结）的AI系统。最终，我们探讨了迈向心理健康领域更可持续的关系中心型AI生态系统的框架路径。