Tech AI Ethics in Psychiatry

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Both in the United States and across the globe, there is a growing crisis in mental health, which current mental healthcare systems are struggling to address. Many prominent psychiatrists have turned to artificial intelligence and other technologies as solutions to help bridge this gap between the need for care and the resources available. However, there have been longstanding ethical debates about the deployment of various technologies in psychiatry, and artificial intelligence is no exception. This course will explore ethical issues related to the use of technology (especially artificial intelligence) in the context of psychiatry and mental health. Students will learn about existing frameworks in the ethics of science, technology, and AI in general and apply them to current issues of importance for psychiatric science and mental healthcare. Topics may include debates over psychopharmaceuticals, electroceuticals, genetic technologies, digital phenotyping, and psychotherapy chatbots. Through exploring these issues, students will develop their skills in philosophical reading, writing, and discussion and become informed participants in active debates surrounding psychiatry and mental health.