SCIENCE - Computer-based Psychiatrists

British researchers claim that computers can become psychiatrists,as in the years to come they will be programmed to predict if a person will gain a mental illness/disorder, giving doctors the opportunity for an early intervention.

Brain X-Ray

 In particular, according to a study published in the medical journal «Public Library of Science (PLoS) ONE», computer programs can learn to "read" brain x-rays, identify adolescents or young people at higher risk of health condition,  such as stress or depression.

 

"Combining the teaching machines in the end in a neuroimaging technique that has enormous potential to help us to identify adolescents who are at risk of developing real stressful situations and behavioral disorders," he says Tzanaina the Mourao Miranda, head of research at University College London.

According to research:

• Depression and other psychiatric disorders are major causes of death, disability and economic hardship.  
• Up to 40% of Europeans suffer from a neurological or mental illness each year (with treatment cost estimated at the eight hundred million euros).
• The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by the end of this decade only  depression will constitute the second cause of disease, regardless of age, around the world.

Given the above research outcomes, as well as the fact that there are neither biomarkers , nor genetic testing (or any other means for predicting mental illnesses/disorders), computers seem to hold the key to solution.

Translation & Editing by Christiana Vellianiti

Source: ofono.gr