A shift in psychiatry through AI? Ethical challenges

Annals of General Psychiatry, vol. 22, pp. 43

Abstract

The digital transformation has made its way into many areas of society, including medicine. While AI-based systems are widespread in medical disciplines, their use in psychiatry is progressing more slowly. However, they promise to revolutionize psychiatric practice in terms of prevention options, diagnostics, or even therapy. Psychiatry is in the midst of this digital transformation, so the question is no longer "whether" to use technology, but "how" we can use it to achieve goals of progress or improvement. The aim of this article is to argue that this revolution brings not only new opportunities but also new ethical challenges for psychiatry, especially with regard to safety, responsibility, autonomy, or transparency. As an example, the relationship between doctor and patient in psychiatry will be addressed, in which digitization is also leading to ethically relevant changes. Ethical reflection on the use of AI systems offers the opportunity to accompany these changes carefully in order to take advantage of the benefits that this change brings. The focus should therefore always be on balancing what is technically possible with what is ethically necessary.

Authors 5

1. Saskia Wilhelmy corresponding Aachen Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 5074, Aachen, Germany. swilhelmy@ukaachen.de

   Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Giancarlo Giupponi

   Ospedale di Bolzano · Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto Adige

   Affiliation as printed

   Academic Teaching Department of Psychiatry, Central Hospital, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Via Lorenz Böhler 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

   Academic Teaching Department of Psychiatry, Central Hospital, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Bolzano, Italy

3. Dominik Groß Aachen Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 5074, Aachen, Germany

   Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Klaus Eisendle

   Institut für Allgemeinmedizin und Public Health

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Provincial College for Health Professions Claudiana, Lorenz-Böhler-Straße 13, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

   Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Provincial College for Health Professions Claudiana, Bolzano, Italy

5. Andreas Conca

   Ospedale di Bolzano · Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto Adige

   Affiliation as printed

   Academic Teaching Department of Psychiatry, Central Hospital, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Via Lorenz Böhler 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

   Academic Teaching Department of Psychiatry, Central Hospital, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Bolzano, Italy