Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Psychiatry: Qualitative\n Findings from a Global Physician Survey

Abstract

The potential for machine learning to disrupt the medical profession is the\nsubject of ongoing debate within biomedical informatics. This study aimed to\nexplore psychiatrists' opinions about the potential impact of innovations in\nartificial intelligence and machine learning on psychiatric practice. In Spring\n2019, we conducted a web-based survey of 791 psychiatrists from 22 countries\nworldwide. The survey measured opinions about the likelihood future technology\nwould fully replace physicians in performing ten key psychiatric tasks. This\nstudy involved qualitative descriptive analysis of written response to three\nopen-ended questions in the survey. Comments were classified into four major\ncategories in relation to the impact of future technology on\npatient-psychiatric interactions, the quality of patient medical care, the\nprofession of psychiatry, and health systems. Overwhelmingly, psychiatrists\nwere skeptical that technology could fully replace human empathy. Many\npredicted that 'man and machine' would increasingly collaborate in undertaking\nclinical decisions, with mixed opinions about the benefits and harms of such an\narrangement. Participants were optimistic that technology might improve\nefficiencies and access to care, and reduce costs. Ethical and regulatory\nconsiderations received limited attention. This study presents timely\ninformation of psychiatrists' view about the scope of artificial intelligence\nand machine learning on psychiatric practice. Psychiatrists expressed divergent\nviews about the value and impact of future technology with worrying omissions\nabout practice guidelines, and ethical and regulatory issues.\n

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