Jibrael Jos Class Assignments: AI in Therapy

ARTICLE 1

COMPUTERS AND THERAPY

TECHNOLOGY USED TO ENHANCE AND DISSEMINATE MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS:

1) INTERNET SUPPORTED INTERVENTIONS:

WEB-BASED THERAPY: The internet is used as a means of communication between the mental health practitioner and a patient. This method acts as an alternative to traditional face to face sessions or offered as a supplementary service. Psychotherapy can be conducted via: video conferencing, instant messaging, email and through online forums. The primary advantage is that they eliminate the need for the therapist and patient to be located in the same room or even in the same country. But the disadvantage is that online treatment from a qualified professional costs about the same as face to face therapy.

SELF - GUIDED TREATMENTS: Before the internet, self-help programs were distributed as books, videos or audio series. All of this content can be easily adapted for websites, and enhanced with multimedia content, user interaction, quizzes, etc. The quality of these programs varies widely, from cutting-edge interventions from leading researchers, to baseless advice from self-proclaimed gurus.

THERAPIST ASSISTED ONLINE SELF-HELP: Here the online systems combine self-help and interaction with a live therapist. The user may work through some content independently, and a therapist periodically reviews their progress and answers any questions they may have.

2) COMPUTERISED THERAPY: Computerised therapy uses software to administer dynamic mental health interventions with no or limited therapist involvement. For example, encoded logic(algorithms) can be automatically formulate an individualised treatment plan for each user. Systems may be made available through smartphone apps, standalone software programs or even be embedded in special purpose computers, such as robots. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is well suited for computerization, as the treatment strategy follows a well-defined and formal methodology. However, forms of therapy that rely more heavily on verbal interaction and patient-therapist relationship are yet not possible.

3) THERAPEUTIC ROBOTS: we often can form strong bonds with non-human counterparts. Animals can play a positive role in mental wellbeing. Unfortunately, many people such as those suffering from degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, are unable to care for an animal. In these cases, robots can fill an important void in their lives. For example, Paro is a robotic companion which looks like a baby seal. The seal responds to sound and touch, shows different emotions, sleep patterns, and is able to learn information about its environment, such as the name of its carrier. Robots can also be a helpful tool for those having trouble with social interaction, for teaching various social skills and also as a learning aid for children with anxiety and mood disorders.

4) VIRTUAL REALITY THERAPY: VR places people in a simulated and imaginary environment, typically through the use of a stereoscopic headset. VR has the advantage that the system designers have complete control over what the user sees and hears. Therefore, VR can be used to help diagnose and treat mental health mental health problems. The most common application is exposure therapy for the treatment of an anxiety disorder or a specific phobia. For example, a patient can be exposed to an object or situation in a safe and controlled environment. Meanwhile, a therapist can closely monitor the patients emotional and physiological reactions and then progress to exposure in real-world situations.

5) VIDEO GAME THERAPY: it is well known that being physically fit and active has a positive impact on mood and happiness, so these games have some follow-on benefits for mental health. Video games that promote physical health such as Nintento’s Wii Fit are becoming popular form of exercise. SPARX is a video game designed to target depression and anxiety in teenagers where the game takes place in a fantasy world and as the user navigates the environment they complete various tasks and challenges which teach them techniques for dealing with depression.

ARTICLE 2

USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Advancements in artificial intelligence are bringing psychotherapy to more individuals who need it. Nonetheless, the benefits need to be carefully balanced against their limitations.

MENTAL DISORDERS ARE THE COSTLIEST CONDITION IN THE U.S.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults in the United States (17.9%) experiences some type of mental health disorder. Mental illness not only reduces an individual’s quality of life, but it also links with increased health spending. Charles Roehrig, founding director of the Center for Sustainable Health Spending at Altarum Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan, notes that mental disorders, including dementia, now top the list of medical conditions with the highest estimated spending. Approximately $201 billion is spent on mental illness annually. Because of the costs associated with treatment, many individuals who experience mental health problems do not receive timely professional input. Cost is not only the contributing factor; other reasons include shortage of therapists and the stigma associated with mental illness.

AI FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND PERSONALISED COGINITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)

Clinical research psychologist Dr. Alison Darcy created Woebot, a Facebook- integrated computer program that aims to replicate conversations a patient might have with his or her therapists. Woebot is a Chatbot that resembles an instant messaging service. It asks about your mood and thoughts, “listens” to how you are feeling, learns about you and offers evidence-based CBT tools. It aims to emulate a real life face to face meeting and the interaction is tailored to the individual’s situation. Woebot make CBT more accessible to a modern generation that chronically lacks the time and is accustomed to 24/7 connectivity. Some of the early Chabot’s were designed in the 1960s at MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Their program ELIZA was able to stimulate a short conversation between a therapist and a patient. Chabot’s are constantly improving to become more human like and natural. They also offer different language options. For example, Emma speaks Dutch is a bot designed to help with mild anxiety, while Karim speaks Arabic and has been assisting Syrian refugees struggling to cope after fleeing the atrocities of war. Tess, another AI product can perform CBT, as well as purportedly improve the burnout associated with caregiving.

WHAT MAKES AI FOR MENTAL HEALTH SO APPEALING?

The first randomized control trial with Woebot showed that after just two weeks, participants experienced a significant reduction in depression and anxiety. Furthermore, a high level of engagement was observed, with individuals using the bot nearly every day. A virtual therapists named Ellie has also been launched and trailed by the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies. Initially, Ellie was designed to treat veterans experiencing depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Ellie can detect not only words but also non-verbal cues.

Some studies show that we react to systems as if they were real humans. Some psychologists also argue that we find it easier to share potentially embarrassing information with a virtual therapist. When patients talk to a psychotherapy bot, they report not feeling judged. Ellie,Karim and Woebot can make them feel at ease. In addition, robots are always available and can offer a much higher frequency of therapeutic interactions compared to a human therapist.

HEADING TOWARDS AN AI BASED MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?

Machine learning and advanced AI technologies are enabling a new type of care that focuses on providing individualized emotional support. For example, Ginger,io combine machine learning and a clinical network to provide you with the right level of emotional support at the right time and offers 24/7 online CBT, mindfulness and resilience training. The example of Ginger.io signals that we might be moving towards an AI- based health care system that could transcend the temporal, geographical and, to some extent, financial boundaries and limitations. This digital technology makes behavioural health more accessible, convenient, breaks the barrier of staff shortage and is available whenever you require it. Although AI for mental health still needs to deal with many complexities, research shows that behavioural health interventions are benefitting from continuity, and technology seems to be offering an improved user experience.

PREVENTING SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE USING AI

Social networking is very important for young people dealing with mental illness. Extreme social isolation and difficulties building close relationships are often a feature of their lives. Simon D’Alfonso of the National Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia, and his colleagues have been working on the Moderate Online Social Therapy (MOST) project. It is being used with young people recovering from psychosis and depression. The technology helps create a therapeutic environment where young people learn and interact, as well as practice therapeutic techniques. MOST has been used in a series of research trials and was evaluated as a viable mental health tool. Currently, the program is facilitated by human moderators. However, designers of the system plan to eventually replace humans with innovative AI solutions.

VIRTUAL COUNSELOR TO REDUCE STUDENT STRESS

Manolya Kavakli, associate professor at the Macquarie university in Sydney, is leading a project that aims to help students develop better coping techniques, particularly in connection with exam stress. Exams often put tremendous pressure on young people, which can have negative health implications such as depression, insomnia and suicide. When exposed to excessive stress, timely counselling can be imperative to maintaining health. The virtual counsellor mimics a psychologist and offers advice and support with stress management.

ARTICLE 3

BOTS ARE BECOMING HIGHLY SKILLED ASSISTANTS IN PHYSICAL THERAPHY

Within the last decade, there has been a great progress in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. Innovators have been seeking out ways to merge humans and machines and, in some areas, remove humans altogether. In AI, Chabot’s, self-driving cars, and voice recognition have all made significant strides. Perhaps most importantly, advances in AI and robotic technologies within health care are improving patient treatment and care.

Bots are helping humans provide improved care- The robots focus on reducing physical impairments while the therapists assist in translating the gains in impairment into function. Current care methods rely on physical therapists manually helping patients learn how to balance and strengthen muscles through a series of exercises and stretches.

The advancement of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, along with the evolution of robotics, has produced commercialized robotic therapy solutions with a great capacity for immediate interactive response.

Traditional therapy generally involves the therapist moving the patient’s limbs, or the patient struggling mightily with crutches or canes, whereas exoskeleton technology takes much of the physical burden off of the patient because of its ability to learn and predict movements.

The human connection between a patient and a therapist is still a hugely important factor, as this type of patient treatment often involves an emotional component that machines cannot yet address.

ARTICLE 4

THE POTENTIAL OF AI THERAPY BOTS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Artificial intelligence is having a marked impact on the pharma and healthcare

industries. One area within the industry that has potential to be disrupted by AI is

mental health care, specifically with the use of Chabot’s for therapy and general

wellbeing. Previously, there have been concerns about this type of service, largely

to do with the safety of the tools. From a different perspective, there’s also the

question of whether a Chabot UX can ever replicate the often nuanced interactions

that take place between a patient and therapist – as well as the associated levels of

empathy and trust.

Accessibility and removing stigmas

naturally, the apparent rise of mental health issues plus a strained healthcare

system means that many sufferers might avoid seeking help altogether.

This message is key, emphasizing that people should not solely rely on therapy

bots, or use them for more serious or long-term issues. What it does mean,

however, is that people can use these services in real moments of need. Similarly,

these services are designed to naturally align with user behavior, with many

‘checking in’ on Facebook Messenger much like a friend would

Woebot – transparency and humour

One thing about Woebot is its transparency. It lets users know from the get-go that

it is an automated service, also emphasizing the fact that it should not be a

replacement for therapy (and telling you what to do if you’re struggling on a more

serious level).

The fact that the bot overtly states that it is not human is definitely a positive. As

well as instilling trust in users, this could also be more effective for encouraging

people to open up as it eliminates the fear of judgment.

ARTICLE 5

CAN AI BE AN EFFECTIVE THERAPIST?

Due to the expeditious amelioration and its application in the medical field, researchers and medical practitioners are now looking at ways in which artificial intelligence and machine learning can be leveraged to diagnose early symptoms and potential cure for various mental illnesses. Noteworthy advancements have been made in this regard and AI-powered solutions such as NLP and even chatbots have been designed to apprehend the human mind. Some start-ups developed the following AI therapies.

Virtual Therapist: Machine learning capabilities are used for specifying patients with a mental health condition and provide a customized treatment plan based on their previous medical history and behavioural pattern. AI interacts with patients in real-time. By the patterns provide by AI, proficient detected the patients suffering from PTSD also. The virtual assistant could analyses facial expressions, head gestures, eye gaze direction and voice quality to identify behavioural changes indicators related to depression and post-trauma stress.

Quartet Health and use case Ellie are few start-ups using this technique of visual therapist.

AI-Powered Genetic Counsellor: AI software which evolved to provide the similar services as that of a genetic counsellor. Which involves advising individuals and families at the risk of a genetic disorder by helping them understand the condition better and provide them with the much-needed mental support. AI has been leveraged in genome sequencing to spot disease marker in patients and even to make a personalized drug treatment plan for patients. Few start-ups like Clear Genetics and Optra GURU have developed the software.

Chatbots for Depression: These AI provides its users with features like guided and unguided meditation, reminders via message and progress tracking. A chatbot that uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) tools for depression. The app sends over a million messages per week to help its users deal with issues related to depression, anxiety, relationship problems, procrastination, loneliness, grief, addiction, pain management and more. On the burgeoning demand, India and UK-based healthcare startup, Touch skin introduced Wysa, its AI-powered chatbot. Another popular name is Woebot. This is an app that can be downloaded and used. There are more than half a million people using this app.

Stumbling blocks of AI: The drawback in this case is technology can ensure a certain degree of anonymity, it will fail to replace human intervention especially when people show symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, they need personal assistance and direct human intervention which is crucial for a person in distress.

The main setbacks seen in all these fields is cost reduction, hacking and data theft. These confidential data or information of patients can be misused. As AI systems are prone to vulnerabilities, it can also lead to inaccurate disease detection and false recommendation of drugs. Even though machines are algorithms that can mimic human emotions in speech and visual format, it is a long road ahead before completely relying on AI and ML capabilities in the field like psychological counselling, which requires more human interaction than machine.

REFERENCES

Computers and therapy

https://www.ai-therapy.com/articles/computers-and-therapy

Using artificial intelligence for mental health

https://www.verywellmind.com/using-artificial-intelligence-for-mental-health-4144239

Bots are becoming highly skilled assistants in physical therapy

https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/15/bots-are-becoming-highly-skilled-assistants-in-physical-therapy/

The potential of AI therapy bots in mental health care

https://econsultancy.com/the-potential-of-ai-therapy-bots-in-mental-health-care/

Can artificial intelligence be an effective therapist?

https://www.analyticsindiamag.com/can-ai-be-an-effective-therapist/

WORK DISTRIBUTION