Enhancing mental health with Artificial Intelligence: Current trends and future prospects

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in various fields, and its application in mental healthcare is no exception. Hence, this review explores the integration of AI into mental healthcare, elucidating current trends, ethical considerations, and future directions in this dynamic field. This review encompassed recent studies, examples of AI applications, and ethical considerations shaping the field. Additionally, regulatory frameworks and trends in research and development were analyzed. We comprehensively searched four databases (PubMed, IEEE Xplore, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar). The inclusion criteria were papers published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, or reputable online databases, papers that specifically focus on the application of AI in the field of mental healthcare, and review papers that offer a comprehensive overview, analysis, or integration of existing literature published in the English language. Current trends reveal AI's transformative potential, with applications such as the early detection of mental health disorders, personalized treatment plans, and AI-driven virtual therapists. However, these advancements are accompanied by ethical challenges concerning privacy, bias mitigation, and the preservation of the human element in therapy. Future directions emphasize the need for clear regulatory frameworks, transparent validation of AI models, and continuous research and development efforts. Integrating AI into mental healthcare and mental health therapy represents a promising frontier in healthcare. While AI holds the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare, responsible and ethical implementation is essential. By addressing current challenges and shaping future directions thoughtfully, we may effectively utilize the potential of AI to enhance the accessibility, efficacy, and ethicality of mental healthcare, thereby helping both individuals and communities

Psychiatr Rehabil J

ObjectiveTheoretical models offer valuable insights for designing effective and sustainable behavioral health interventions, yet the application of theory for informing digital technology interventions for people with mental illness has received limited attention. We offer a perspective on the importance of applying behavior theories and models to developing digital technology interventions for addressing mental and physical health concerns among people with mental illness.MethodsIn this commentary, we summarize prominent theories of human behavior, highlight key theoretical constructs, and identify opportunities to inform digital health interventions for people with mental illness. We consider limitations with existing theories and models, and examine recent theoretical advances that can specifically guide development of digital technology interventionsResultsEstablished behavioral frameworks including Health Belief Model, Theory of Planned Behavior, Transtheoretical Model, and Social Cognitive Theory consist of important and overlapping constructs that can inform digital health interventions for people with mental illness. As digital technologies continue to evolve and enable longitudinal data collection, real-time behavior monitoring, and adaptive features tailored to users\u2019 changing needs over time, there are new opportunities to broaden our understanding of health behaviors and mechanisms of behavior change. Recent advances include dynamic models of behavior, Persuasive System Design, the Behavioral Intervention Technology model, and behavioral models for Just-In-Time Adaptive Interventions.Conclusions and Implications for PracticeBehavior theories offer advantages for guiding use of digital technologies. Future research must explore how theoretical models can effectively advance efforts to develop, evaluate, and disseminate digital health interventions targeting individuals with mental illness.P30 DA029926/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United StatesU48 DP005018/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United StatesHealth Promotion Research Center/Center for Technology and Behavioral Health/2018-09-01T00:00:00Z28182469PMC5550360vault:2389

Enhancing Mental Health with Artificial Intelligence: Current Trends and Future Prospects

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in various fields, and its application in mental healthcare is no exception. Hence, this review explores the integration of AI into mental healthcare, elucidating current trends, ethical considerations, and future directions in this dynamic field. This review encompassed recent studies, examples of AI applications, and ethical considerations shaping the field. Additionally, regulatory frameworks and trends in research and development were analyzed. We comprehensively searched four databases (PubMed, IEEE Xplore, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar). The inclusion criteria were papers published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, or reputable online databases, papers that specifically focus on the application of AI in the field of mental healthcare, and review papers that offer a comprehensive overview, analysis, or integration of existing literature published in the English language. Current trends reveal AI's transformative potential, with applications such as the early detection of mental health disorders, personalized treatment plans, and AI-driven virtual therapists. However, these advancements are accompanied by ethical challenges concerning privacy, bias mitigation, and the preservation of the human element in therapy. Future directions emphasize the need for clear regulatory frameworks, transparent validation of AI models, and continuous research and development efforts. Integrating AI into mental healthcare and mental health therapy represents a promising frontier in healthcare. While AI holds the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare, responsible and ethical implementation is essential. By addressing current challenges and shaping future directions thoughtfully, we may effectively utilize the potential of AI to enhance the accessibility, efficacy, and ethicality of mental healthcare, thereby helping both individuals and communities

Mobile devices for the remote acquisition of physiological and behavioral biomarkers in psychiatric clinical research

Psychiatric disorders are linked to a variety of biological, psychological, and contextual causes and consequences. Laboratory studies have elucidated the importance of several key physiological and behavioral biomarkers in the study of psychiatric disorders, but much less is known about the role of these biomarkers in naturalistic settings. These gaps are largely driven by methodological barriers to assessing biomarker data rapidly, reliably, and frequently outside the clinic or laboratory. Mobile health (mHealth) tools offer new opportunities to study relevant biomarkers in concert with other types of data (e.g., self-reports, global positioning system data). This review provides an overview on the state of this emerging field and describes examples from the literature where mHealth tools have been used to measure a wide array of biomarkers in the context of psychiatric functioning (e.g., psychological stress, anxiety, autism, substance use). We also outline advantages and special considerations for incorporating mHealth tools for remote biomarker measurement into studies of psychiatric illness and treatment and identify several specific opportunities for expanding this promising methodology. Integrating mHealth tools into this area may dramatically improve psychiatric science and facilitate highly personalized clinical care of psychiatric disorders

Digital technologies to support mental health among young people

The aim of this study was to describe how digital technologies can support young people in mental health services. An explorative mixed methods study was conducted in three phases. First, a systematic literature review was carried out between 2011 and 2013, followed by a meta-analysis of three studies to examine the effectiveness of a virtual reality intervention used in specialized psychiatric care. Second, the use of an electronic diary (e-diary) was explored among young people (n=89) who were clients of adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics between 2008 and 2010 due to depressive symptoms. Third, the use of web-based community services aimed at young people (n=2,193) in 2018 was explored. In the second and third stages, quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive analysis and qualitative data with inductive thematic analysis. No quality evidence for or against virtual reality usage among people with serious mental health problems was found in the systematic review and meta- analysis. The young people’s long-term use of the e-diary was low, and nearly half of the participants did not use it at all. Those who did use the e-diary had previous experiences in mental health services and had more severe symptoms of depression than those who did not use it. Most of the young people who used digital technologies during treatment at the adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics and in the community were females. According to the study results, digital technologies were most often used in the evenings and during the school year. Young people openly discussed their mental health and their personal issues such as relationships, identity, social life, health and illnesses, and self-perception. Digital technologies have the potential to help young people monitor their behavior, symptoms, and experiences and get support when they need it. When developing and implementing mental health support based on digital technologies, it is important to consider the different mental health and gender-specific needs of young people, as well as their readiness to use digital technologies to support their own mental health and well-being.Digitaaliset teknologiat nuorten mielenterveyden tukena Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kuvata, miten digitaalisia teknologioita voidaan käyttää nuorten mielenterveyden tukena mielenterveyspalveluissa. Tutkimus toteutettiin kolmessa vaiheessa. Ensimmäisessä vaiheessa systemaattinen kirjallisuuskatsaus tehtiin vuosina 2011–2013, jonka jälkeen tehtiin meta-analyysi kolmesta tutkimuksesta, joissa tutkittiin virtuaalitodellisuusintervention tehokkuutta psykiatrian erityispalveluissa. Toisessa vaiheessa sähköisen päiväkirjan (e-päiväkirjan) käyttöä tutkittiin nuorisopsykiatrian poliklinikoilla masennusoireiden takia vuosina 2008–2010 asiakkaina olleiden nuorten (n=89) keskuudessa. Kolmannessa vaiheessa tutkittiin vuonna 2018 nuorille (n=2,193) suunnattujen verkkopohjaisten palvelujen käyttöä. Toisessa ja kolmannessa vaiheessa kvantitatiivisia tietoja analysoitiin kuvailevalla analyysillä ja kvalitatiivisia tietoja induktiivisella temaattisella analyysillä. Systemaattisen katsauksen ja meta-analyysin perusteella virtuaalitodellisuus-interventioiden hyödyistä tai haitoista vakavien mielenterveysongelmien hoidossa ei löytynyt laadukasta näyttöä. Nuorten pitkäaikainen e-päiväkirjan käyttö oli vähäistä ja lähes puolet osallistujista eivät käyttäneet sitä lainkaan. E-päiväkirjaa käyttäneillä oli aiempaa kokemusta mielenterveyspalveluista ja heillä oli vakavampia masennusoireita kuin heillä, jotka eivät sitä käyttäneet. Nuoret, jotka käyttivät digitaalisia teknologioita nuorisopsykiatrisen polikliinisen hoidon aikana tai verkkopohjaisissa palveluissa, olivat pääasiassa naispuolisia. Tämän tutkimuksen tulosten mukaan digitaalisia teknologioita käytettiin useimmiten iltaisin ja kouluvuoden aikana. Nuoret keskustelivat avoimesti mielenterveydestään ja henkilökohtaisista asioistaan, kuten ihmissuhteistaan, identiteetistään, sosiaalisesta elämästään, terveydestään ja sairauksistaan sekä miten he näkivät ja kokivat itsensä. Digitaaliset teknologiat luovat mahdollisuuksia auttaa nuoria seuraamaan käyttäytymistään, oireitaan tai kokemuksiaan sekä saamaan tukea, silloin kun he sitä tarvitsevat. Digitaaliseen teknologiaan perustuvaa tukea kehitettäessä ja toteutettaessa on tärkeää ottaa huomioon nuorten erilaiset mielenterveys- ja sukupuolikohtaiset tarpeet sekä heidän valmiutensa käyttää digitaalista teknologiaa oman mielenterveyden ja hyvinvoinnin tukemiseen

Toward Data-Driven Digital Therapeutics Analytics: Literature Review and Research Directions

With the advent of Digital Therapeutics (DTx), the development of software as a medical device (SaMD) for mobile and wearable devices has gained significant attention in recent years. Existing DTx evaluations, such as randomized clinical trials, mostly focus on verifying the effectiveness of DTx products. To acquire a deeper understanding of DTx engagement and behavioral adherence, beyond efficacy, a large amount of contextual and interaction data from mobile and wearable devices during field deployment would be required for analysis. In this work, the overall flow of the data-driven DTx analytics is reviewed to help researchers and practitioners to explore DTx datasets, to investigate contextual patterns associated with DTx usage, and to establish the (causal) relationship of DTx engagement and behavioral adherence. This review of the key components of data-driven analytics provides novel research directions in the analysis of mobile sensor and interaction datasets, which helps to iteratively improve the receptivity of existing DTx.Comment: This paper has been accepted by the IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinic