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AI could help identify patients at risk of psychosis more quickly

AI has been shown to be effective in identifying and analysing symptoms from psychiatric interviews, which could help speed up assessments and access to care for those who need it most, according to a new study.

A doctor holding an ipad with a patient © Shutterstock

A team led by the University of Oxford and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London say their research shows the potential for AI Large Language Models (LLMs) to help identify people at high risk of psychosis, as well as making assessments faster and more accessible for patients. The findings have been published in the journal npj Digital Medicine.

It comes as Wellcome fund a new £2.4 million project to develop a voice-based system called ARIADNE, powered by generative artificial intelligence, designed to identify people at risk of developing psychosis. It will be able to hold a natural conversation, ask patients the right questions, and produce clear, tailored reports for patients, clinicians, and researchers.

Psychosis accounts for around 10% of the global health burden for young people, with onset usually around the ages of 20-35. Early detection of psychosis results in patients receiving treatment earlier, spending fewer days in hospital and having better outcomes overall.

Read the full story on the Department of Psychiatry website.

 

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