New Software Predicts The Onset Of Psychosis By Analyzing Language
It’s possible diagnose a serious mental disorder several years after the first symptoms appear ? If so, what implications would it have both clinically and for the person at risk of developing them?
In a recently developed study, we used speech analysis software to try to predict psychosis risk Throughout this article we will talk about this new computer program that is still in the process of research and development.
In the field of psychology and psychiatry, psychosis refers to a state of mental alteration or a serious mental disorder through which the person experiences a loss of contact with reality and an impairment of normative social functioning.
This disorder refers to a series of serious disorders, in which the person can manifest hallucinations of all kinds, as well as delusions alterations in personality and disorganized thinking and language.
Furthermore, it is possible that this symptomatology is accompanied by unusual or unusual behaviors in the person, as well as by problems when establishing and maintaining any type of interaction with other people, obstructing and making the day-to-day life of the person difficult. person.
It is necessary to emphasize that psychosis is not a single mental disorder; but rather encompasses all classifications of psychiatric conditions known as psychotic disorders. These mental disorders include:
What is this software?
As mentioned above, disorganized thinking is one of the main symptoms of psychosis. This, which is expressed through the patient’s disorganized speech, can be evaluated through oral clinical interviews with the patient.
This disorganized thinking distinguishes because the patient’s speech becomes tangential and loses the associations of the ideas expressed. Therefore, the patient may express confused and incoherent speech, in addition to continually jumping from one idea to another.
Following these facts, a study carried out in collaboration with the New York Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center and the IBM TJ Watson Research Center, evaluated and compared the transcripts of a series of interviews conducted with young people at risk of developing psychosis
During the study, the interviews of 34 participants from New York and 59 participants from the city of Los Angeles were evaluated, using computer speech analysis software, for whom the onset of psychosis was estimated over the course of two years. following years.
After analyzing the interviews, it was discovered that the software was able to correctly differentiate between young people in whom there was a real risk of developing psychosis and those who were not, in most cases.
According to experts in the analysis of people’s pathological behavior, 1% of the population between the ages of 14 and 27 is at serious risk of developing psychosis. These people tend to manifest symptoms such as unusual thoughts, tangential speech, perceptual disturbances and suspicious reactions to other people.
Approximately 20% within this risk population will experience a psychotic episode; Therefore, early detection accompanied by psychological intervention could help reduce the impact of this episode or even prevent it.
Speech as a key in detection
Within psychology and psychiatry, both language and behavior They provide a large amount of key information in the diagnosis of any type of mental disorder.
In the case of psychoses, the patient’s oral language is a great source of information about what is happening in the person’s mind. Providing important clues about what the person experiences, feels and perceives.
In the study referenced above, Patients were asked to narrate their subjective experiences These conversations were then transcribed and analyzed using speech assessment software.
According to the researchers, this software analyzed expression patterns, semantics and syntax used by the participant. As well as the length of the sentences and the correct use of the words used to link the expressions.
It is necessary to specify that a clinical psychiatrist or mental health professional is capable of recognizing these signs or symptoms manually, through a face-to-face interview with the patient. However, the development of this software implies an increase in precision by taking into account more variables and in a more rigorous manner.
What were the results of the study?
Once the interviews and analyzes were carried out, the participants were followed up over two and a half years.
The examiners who carried out this study found a series of key qualities or features in the conversations that predicted future mental problems in 83% of cases
Specifically, those oral language features that helped predict the onset of psychoses were alterations in the flow of meaning between sentences. Especially highlighting sentences that are shorter than usual and with much less elaboration.
After these results, the researchers place their hope that thanks to this software early and reliable detection of more subtle symptoms can be made which can appear even many years before the psychotic disorder develops.
Implications of this software in clinical practice
Within the field of clinical diagnosis within psychology and psychiatry, the possibility of using a computer program that helps and facilitates the early detection of serious mental disorders is very good news.
In this way, the diagnosis and prognosis of serious mental conditions can be expedited, and thus design treatment and early intervention proposals that reduce the impact of the symptoms. Furthermore, other advantages that researchers assign to this software are that said analysis is carried out quickly, safely and with very low economic costs.
However, the researchers themselves warn that this is only a prototype and research time is still required to turn it into a completely reliable diagnostic tool.
