Ethical aspects of the application of artificial intelligence in psychiatry

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to discuss current applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in psychiatry and the ethical issues involved. It also aims to identify the need for further research and collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and technology developers to safely and effectively implement AI in the care of patients with mental disorders.

Views
The application of AI in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses is a promising direction for modern psychiatry, but it involves many ethical challenges. AI is being used in a variety of areas, such as early disease detection, personalization of treatment and monitoring the progress of therapy. Examples include recognizing patterns in patient data, detecting the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases, and using digital games and mobile apps to treat mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. Despite the growing role of AI, there are a number of controversies related to the lack of empathy its use brings to patient in patient interactions, the threat to data privacy, and the opacity of decision-making processes in AI algorithms. Ethical challenges also include the risk of over-reliance on technology and the reduced role of human specialists in psychiatry.

Conclusions
The application of AI in psychiatry comes with opportunities as well as serious ethical challenges. Ensuring the transparency of algorithms, protecting patients’ privacy and clearly defining responsibility for decisions made with the support of AI remain crucial. Only a responsible approach to these issues will allow the full potential of AI to be realized without compromising basic ethical values.