Latest revision as of 10:33, 19 February 2025

Themes

Ethics in global digital psychiatry: balancing innovation and responsibility

What is this about?

The rise of digital psychiatry brings both opportunities and ethical challenges. Technologies such as AI-driven diagnostics, mental health apps, and telepsychiatry services promise greater accessibility, but they also raise concerns about privacy, trust, equity, and bias. Without clear rules and oversight, it’s important to consider their impact.

Why is this important?

Digital psychiatry is reshaping mental health care by increasing accessibility and offering new treatment tools. However, significant ethical dilemmas arise, including the risk of AI bias, potential breaches of privacy, the impact of digital therapies on traditional face-to-face care, and concerns over data security. Without strong rules and oversight, many questions remain. Understanding these issues is critical for ensuring that digital psychiatry develops in a way that respects human rights, safeguards vulnerable populations, and ensure fair access to mental health care.

For whom is this important?

AI developersPatientshealth care professionalsmedical researchersPolicy makers

What are the best practices?

Best practices in digital psychiatry focus on balancing innovation with patient rights and safety. Protecting privacy is key, as mental health data is sensitive and vulnerable to misuse. Transparency is essential—patients should know how digital tools work and how their data is handled.

AI and digital tools should support, not replace, human care. Digital mental health tools should undergo rigorous testing to prove their effectiveness and safety.

Improving digital literacy can help people make informed choices about their care. Ethical guidelines and clear regulations should evolve alongside technology to protect patients and ensure responsible innovation. By prioritizing fairness, privacy, and accountability, digital psychiatry can truly benefit those who need it most.

contributed to this theme. Latest contribution was Feb 19, 2025

Other information

Virtues & Values

Good Practices & Misconduct

Galderisi S, Appelbaum PS, Gill N, et al. Ethical challenges in contemporary psychiatry: an overview and an appraisal of possible strategies and research needs. World Psychiatry. 2024;23(3):364-386. doi:10.1002/wps.21230
Torous J, Roberts LW. Needed Innovation in Digital Health and Smartphone Applications for Mental Health: Transparency and Trust. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(5):437-438. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0262
Gooding P, Kariotis T. Ethics and Law in Research on Algorithmic and Data-Driven Technology in Mental Health Care: Scoping Review. JMIR Ment Health. 2021;8(6):e24668. Published 2021 Jun 10. doi:10.2196/24668
Torous J. A path towards progress: lessons from the hard things about digital mental health. World Psychiatry. 2022;21(3):419-420. doi:10.1002/wps.21003

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Theme
-|Theme Type=Principles & Aspirations
+|Theme Type=Good Practices
 |Title=Ethics in global digital psychiatry: balancing innovation and responsibility
-|Is About=The rise of digital psychiatry brings both opportunities and ethical challenges. Technologies such as AI-driven diagnostics, mental health apps, and telepsychiatry services promise greater accessibility, but they also raise concerns about privacy, trust, equity, and bias. The lack of unified governance and ethical oversight makes it crucial to examine the implications of these advancements.
+|Is About=The rise of digital psychiatry brings both opportunities and ethical challenges. Technologies such as AI-driven diagnostics, mental health apps, and telepsychiatry services promise greater accessibility, but they also raise concerns about privacy, trust, equity, and bias. Without clear rules and oversight, it’s important to consider their impact.
-|Important Because=Digital psychiatry is reshaping mental health care by increasing accessibility and offering new treatment tools. However, significant ethical dilemmas arise, including the risk of AI bias, potential breaches of privacy, the impact of digital therapies on traditional face-to-face care, and concerns over data security. A lack of robust ethical scrutiny and regulatory frameworks leaves many questions unanswered. Understanding these issues is critical for ensuring that digital psychiatry develops in a way that respects human rights, safeguards vulnerable populations, and promotes equitable access to mental health care.
+|Important Because=Digital psychiatry is reshaping mental health care by increasing accessibility and offering new treatment tools. However, significant ethical dilemmas arise, including the risk of AI bias, potential breaches of privacy, the impact of digital therapies on traditional face-to-face care, and concerns over data security. Without strong rules and oversight, many questions remain. Understanding these issues is critical for ensuring that digital psychiatry develops in a way that respects human rights, safeguards vulnerable populations, and ensure fair access to mental health care.
-|Important For=AI developers; Patients; health care professionals; medical researchers
+|Important For=AI developers; Patients; health care professionals; medical researchers; Policy makers
 |Has Best Practice=Best practices in digital psychiatry focus on balancing innovation with patient rights and safety. Protecting privacy is key, as mental health data is sensitive and vulnerable to misuse. Transparency is essential—patients should know how digital tools work and how their data is handled.
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
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-|Related To Theme=Theme:A247109d-33ff-45da-a307-efd40fe4b7a8; Theme:E5629f68-81f6-490d-84d6-fd1e63b8dbc7; Theme:B67f6cdd-a11f-4599-8154-f734d3785c36
+|Related To Theme=Theme:A247109d-33ff-45da-a307-efd40fe4b7a8; Theme:E5629f68-81f6-490d-84d6-fd1e63b8dbc7; Theme:B67f6cdd-a11f-4599-8154-f734d3785c36; Theme:A1a1b736-7002-405c-8375-711a11f20e04
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+{{Tags
+|Has Virtue And Value=Availability; Confidentiality; Fairness; Integrity; Privacy
+|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=AI Ethics; Balancing Harm and Benefits
 }}
-{{Tags}}
 # Galderisi S, Appelbaum PS, Gill N, et al. Ethical challenges in contemporary psychiatry: an overview and an appraisal of possible strategies and research needs. ''World Psychiatry''. 2024;23(3):364-386. doi:10.1002/wps.21230
 # Torous J, Roberts LW. Needed Innovation in Digital Health and Smartphone Applications for Mental Health: Transparency and Trust. ''JAMA Psychiatry''. 2017;74(5):437-438. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0262

Difference between revisions of "Theme:F9a8ff8e-3f72-482f-81a8-6d7300037161"