A Call to Action on Assessing and Mitigating Bias in Artificial Intelligence Applications for Mental Health.

Journal: Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science
Published Date: Dec 9, 2022

Abstract

Advances in computer science and data-analytic methods are driving a new era in mental health research and application. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies hold the potential to enhance the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of people experiencing mental health problems and to increase the reach and impact of mental health care. However, AI applications will not mitigate mental health disparities if they are built from historical data that reflect underlying social biases and inequities. AI models biased against sensitive classes could reinforce and even perpetuate existing inequities if these models create legacies that differentially impact who is diagnosed and treated, and how effectively. The current article reviews the health-equity implications of applying AI to mental health problems, outlines state-of-the-art methods for assessing and mitigating algorithmic bias, and presents a call to action to guide the development of in psychological science.

Authors

  • Adela C Timmons
    Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin Institute for Mental Health Research.
  • Jacqueline B Duong
    Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin Institute for Mental Health Research.
  • Natalia Simo Fiallo
    Department of Psychology, Florida International University.
  • Theodore Lee
    Medical Informatics, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 11975 El Camino Real, Suite 105, San Diego, CA, United States.
  • Huong Phuc Quynh Vo
    Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University.
  • Matthew W Ahle
    Colliga Apps Corporation, Austin, Texas.
  • Jonathan S Comer
    Department of Psychology, Florida International University.
  • LaPrincess C Brewer
    Department of Cardiovascular Medicine (P.A.N., Z.I.A., L.C.B., S.N.H., X.Y., S.K., P.A.F., F.L.-J.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
  • Stacy L Frazier
    Department of Psychology, Florida International University.
  • Theodora Chaspari
    University of Southern California, Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering , Los Angeles, CA , USA.

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