We have witnessed instances in which Artificial Intelligence has been reshaping several industries, and the healthcare sector is significant. For the past few years, AI has been gaining attention in the mental health domain by offering various possibilities for diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental health disorders. It has also proved that it possesses the potential to transform the mental health sector by offering personalised and cost-effective solutions to people who need it most. Leveraging the power of AI, mental health professionals will be able to provide adequate care and support to patients, thereby leading to better results.

AI in tackling mental health challenges

One of the significant benefits of harnessing AI in mental health is its ability to offer early detection and diagnosis of mental health disorders. As AI algorithms can analyse huge amounts of data, including behavioural patterns, speech, and facial expressions, they can easily identify potential mental health issues, which aids mental health professionals in timely interventions before the condition worsens.

Moreover, AI can also help treat mental health disorders. For instance, AI chatbots can offer full-time support to individuals who need it the most. The chatbots will provide advice, coping strategies, and therapy sessions according to each individual. These kinds of mental health support can be specifically used for people who do not have access to conventional mental health services.

However, AI can also help in preventing mental health disorders by monitoring data from wearable devices like smartwatches, as it can spot patterns that indicate if an individual is at risk of developing a mental health disorder. This type of early detection permits mental health professionals to provide timely intervention before the disorder develops ultimately.

What the study articulates

A recent study says Artificial Intelligence can aid in recognising individuals with anxiety disorders according to their unique brain structure. The research was published in the journal Nature Mental Health. It studied around 3500 youth between 10 and 25 years old around the world.

As per reports, the researchers utilised machine learning to analyse cortical thickness, surface area, and volumes of deep-lying brain areas. They added that, in order to enhance the results, the algorithm must be more refined, and other brain data, such as brain function and connection, must be added. The researchers added that these initial results are said to be generalisable in such a diverse group of youngsters when it comes to ethnicity, geography, and clinical characteristics.

Moji Aghajani, the lead researcher and Assistant Professor at Leiden University, Netherlands, opined that the study could lead to a more personalized approach to prevention, diagnostics, and care.

Anxiety disorders usually emerge during adolescence and early adulthood. It causes significant social, emotional, and economic challenges for millions of young people around the world. However, the researchers expressed their uncertainty about the brain processes that are involved in these anxiety disorders. 

Moji Aghajani commented, "This incomplete understanding of underlying brain bases is largely due to our simplistic approach to mental disorders among youths, in which clinical studies are often too small in size, with way too much focus on the 'average patient' rather than the individual.”

Moreover, the researcher added, "This concurs with traditional analytical techniques, which are unable to produce individual-level outcomes."

However, we can see how the sector is going through a change with more concentration on individuals and their unique brain features by utilising big data along with AI. 

• https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-023-00173-2
• Photo by Fernando @cferdophotography on Unsplash