The role of AI in transforming psychiatric-mental health care: Enhancing the role of psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into psychiatric-mental health care presents transformative opportunities for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). AI enhances diagnostic accuracy, personalizes treatment plans, and improves patient outcomes by analyzing large datasets and identifying patterns beyond traditional methods. This paper explores AI's role in psychiatric care, focusing on its potential to enhance diagnostics, telepsychiatry, and personalized psychopharmacology. AI tools also enable real-time monitoring of patient symptoms through wearable devices and mobile applications, allowing for timely interventions. However, the integration of AI requires shifts in PMHNP education, emphasizing data literacy, machine learning, and ethical decision-making. While AI offers significant benefits, challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and maintaining the therapeutic relationship must be addressed. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into mental health care, PMHNPs will play a crucial role in ensuring its ethical and effective use in patient-centered care.