How Artificial Intelligence Could Help Diagnose Mental Disorders
This model focused on tell-tale verbal tics of psychosis: short sentences, confusing, frequent use of words like “this,” “that,” and “a,” as well as a muddled sense of meaning from one sentence to the next.
.. The AI would present its findings as a number—like a blood-pressure reading—that a psychiatrist could take into account when making a diagnosis. And as the algorithm is “trained” on more and more patients, that reading could better reflect a patient’s state of mind.
.. If a person’s speech shows fewer signs of depression or bipolar disorder after being given one medication, this tool could help show that it’s working. If there are no changes, the AI might suggest trying another medication sooner, sparing the patient undue suffering.
.. And no one has yet published a proof-of-concept for depression or bipolar disorder.
.. Still, Vahabzadeh believes technology like this could someday help clinicians treat more people, and treat them more efficiently. And that could be crucial, given the shortage of mental-health-care providers throughout the U.S.