There is a need for powerful tools, techniques, and controls that can bring timely diagnosis, treatment, and containment options. Computational psychiatry seems to be a promising new approach as machine learning methods are proving very useful in diagnosis as well as treating. As the relevant mental health biomarkers are further identified, psychiatrists and other professionals would be in a better position to determine who is and will be at risk of developing a particular mental health disorder. Machine-learning tools are rapidly supplementing mental health diagnosis as seen in Ginger.io’s virtual mental health services that include video and text-based therapy and coaching sessions to Quartet Health, which screens patient medical histories and behavioral patterns to uncover undiagnosed mental health problems. That brings us to essential questions: while the current mental health diagnosis is mostly safe from design and bias flaws, can we achieve the same effectiveness from AI backed mental health treatments?

Source: Forbes June 22, 2019 20:03 UTC