Psychiatrists Begin Their Adventure with AI
Child and adolescent psychiatry is facing enormous challenges today. In Poland there are only about 540 child and adolescent psychiatrists, while the needs are immense - estimates suggest that up to a million young people require help, many of them struggling with suicidal thoughts. Could artificial intelligence help?
Dr. Maciej Pilecki, MD, PhD, from the University Hospital in Kraków, says it plainly: “we are beginning a great adventure with artificial intelligence.” His team is behind Mentalio - an innovative system designed to support the diagnosis and treatment of young patients.
What is Mentalio?
Mentalio is a tool based on machine‑learning methods that assists doctors in the diagnostic process. The system analyzes data from questionnaires completed by patients aged 13–21, as well as by their caregivers and specialists. Based on this input, it suggests the most probable diagnoses and possible treatment directions.Importantly, AI does not make the diagnosis on its own—the final decision always belongs to the doctor.
Dr. Pilecki compares it to a navigation system: the computer suggests several routes, but it’s the person who drives. Similarly here—AI is meant to support, not replace, the specialist.
Why is it needed?
In everyday child and adolescent psychiatry in Poland there is a shortage of specialists. Many patients enter the system already in a critical condition. Mentalio aims to enable faster and more accurate diagnoses and also to make communication easier—many young people find it simpler to answer structured questionnaires than to speak openly in a face‑to‑face conversation.
Who is behind the project?
Mentalio is a joint initiative of Jagiellonian University Medical College, AGH University of Science and Technology and the company Nivalit, funded by the Medical Research Agency of Poland. Clinical trials will continue until the end of 2025 and will include 1,500 patients.
AI in psychiatry – the future or just a passing trend?
Solutions like Mentalio could become a real support for healthcare systems. They will never replace empathy, relationships, and a doctor’s experience, but they can help draw conclusions faster and reduce the risk of error. That’s why specialists speak of a “great adventure”—not a threat, but an opportunity for better care.
Source: scienceinpoland.pl
Illustration: Adobe Stock
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