Systematic review of machine learning in PTSD studies for automated diagnosis evaluation.

Journal: Npj mental health research
Published Date:

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently underdiagnosed due to its clinical and biological heterogeneity. Worldwide, many people face barriers to accessing accurate and timely diagnoses. Machine learning (ML) techniques have been utilized for early assessments and outcome prediction to address these challenges. This paper aims to conduct a systematic review to investigate if ML is a promising approach for PTSD diagnosis. In this review, statistical methods were employed to synthesize the outcomes of the included research and provide guidance on critical considerations for ML task implementation. These included (a) selection of the most appropriate ML model for the available dataset, (b) identification of optimal ML features based on the chosen diagnostic method, (c) determination of appropriate sample size based on the distribution of the data, and (d) implementation of suitable validation tools to assess the performance of the selected ML models. We screened 3186 studies and included 41 articles based on eligibility criteria in the final synthesis. Here we report that the analysis of the included studies highlights the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in PTSD diagnosis. However, implementing AI-based diagnostic systems in real clinical settings requires addressing several limitations, including appropriate regulation, ethical considerations, and protection of patient privacy.

Authors

  • Yuqi Wu
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada.
  • Kaining Mao
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada.
  • Liz Dennett
    Scott Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
  • Yanbo Zhang
    Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
  • Jie Chen
    School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.

Keywords

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