By Karl Northwall, MD, DLFAPA
Catawba Hospital
Catawba, VA
The in-person relationship with the patient has been a basic tenet of psychiatry since the time of Freud. Given the shortage of psychiatrists, it is no longer possible to have this and reach those needing us. Newer methods and technologies such as collaborative care, telepsychiatry and virtual therapists enable us to have an impact beyond the classical 1-1 relationship. We even interview candidates for residency programs remotely! AI (Artificial Intelligence) is increasingly being used in medicine to aid in diagnosis, answer patient’s questions, teach, do research and complete administrative tasks. Use of AI in psychiatry is anticipated to increase at a faster rate then in other fields of medicine. It is incumbent on us to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of AI and implement it rationally to extend the clinical reach of psychiatry.
The Psychiatric Society of Virginia is delighted to invite you to our Spring Meeting where we will delve into Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry: Opportunities, Challenges and the Future of Mental Health Care. It will be held March 14-15 2025 at the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center.
