The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health

There is much talk over the usage of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health.

We have seen the use of Artificial Intelligence to assist with surgical procedures using image-guided technology. This technology is used under the supervision of a physician, to perform certain surgical procedures which would be more invasive or not even possible without these innovations. These types of Artificial Intelligence technology has also aided in the way medical procedures are taught to physicians, allowing for greater conceptualization of certain medical procedures.

​Machine learning technology is another form of Artificial Intelligence technology and is now being implemented for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. This technology differs from the image-guided technology and seems to be more applicable to mental health diagnosis and treatment.

Artificial Intelligence companies are using machine learning technology to analyze large volumes of objective and subjective data and use this information to make reliable diagnosis of the patient's mental health condition. Many psychiatric conditions are co-occurring and so machine learning offers greater accuracy in the dual diagnosis of the various mental health conditions.

What is also interesting is our ability to analyze large volumes of data is much more practical than how it was years ago.

The large volumes of data  fed into the machine learning technology, allows for greater degree of accuracy in the evaluation of symptoms. Misdiagnosis is possible if the patient is mis-representing their symptoms and by drawing from a large database of information any outliers will be recognized instantly and not factored into the diagnosis process.

The key is to take the data fed into the database and determine what is the most useful to provide feedback to clinicians and to allow for them to make differences in patient lives. For instance, if you give data suggesting to a patient that they are depressed, that won't necessarily help them become "less" depressed.  The data needs to help give solutions to the patients and so it plays a role in not only the diagnosis process but also with treatment options.

Machine learning technology also offers a cushion between physician-patient relationship. There has been a stigma surrounding psychiatry. Many individuals who are suffering from mental illness have often been stigmatized and felt shame with regards to seeking help. Through machine learning technology, patients experience a cushion between them and the physician, and this subconsciously encourages more truthful recounts of their symptoms from the patient. The patient is less likely to feel they are being judged and so this allows for more effective treatment options.​

Disclaimer: All information, content, and material contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. ​​