scholarly journals Machine Learning in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Education: A Mixed Methods Pilot Survey of Postgraduate Students at a Swiss University

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Blease ◽  
Anna Kharko ◽  
Marco Annoni ◽  
Jens Gaab ◽  
Cosima Locher

Background: There is increasing use of psychotherapy apps in mental health care.Objective: This mixed methods pilot study aimed to explore postgraduate clinical psychology students' familiarity and formal exposure to topics related to artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) during their studies.Methods: In April-June 2020, we conducted a mixed-methods online survey using a convenience sample of 120 clinical psychology students enrolled in a two-year Masters' program at a Swiss University.Results: In total 37 students responded (response rate: 37/120, 31%). Among respondents, 73% (n = 27) intended to enter a mental health profession, and 97% reported that they had heard of the term “machine learning.” Students estimated 0.52% of their program would be spent on AI/ML education. Around half (46%) reported that they intended to learn about AI/ML as it pertained to mental health care. On 5-point Likert scale, students “moderately agreed” (median = 4) that AI/M should be part of clinical psychology/psychotherapy education. Qualitative analysis of students' comments resulted in four major themes on the impact of AI/ML on mental healthcare: (1) Changes in the quality and understanding of psychotherapy care; (2) Impact on patient-therapist interactions; (3) Impact on the psychotherapy profession; (4) Data management and ethical issues.Conclusions: This pilot study found that postgraduate clinical psychology students held a wide range of opinions but had limited formal education on how AI/ML-enabled tools might impact psychotherapy. The survey raises questions about how curricula could be enhanced to educate clinical psychology/psychotherapy trainees about the scope of AI/ML in mental healthcare.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Blease ◽  
Anna Kharko ◽  
Marco Annoni ◽  
Jens Gaab ◽  
Cosima Locher

AbstractBackgroundThere is increasing use of for machine learning-enabled tools (e.g., psychotherapy apps) in mental health care.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore postgraduate clinical psychology and psychotherapy students’ familiarity and formal exposure to topics related to artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) during their studies.MethodsIn April-June 2020, we conducted a mixed-methods web-based survey using a convenience sample of 120 clinical psychology and psychotherapy enrolled in a two-year Masters’ program students at a Swiss university.ResultsIn total 37 students responded (response rate: 37/120, 31%). Among the respondents, 73% (n=27) intended to enter a mental health profession. Among the students 97% reported that they had heard of the term ‘machine learning,’ and 78% reported that they were familiar with the concept of ‘big data analytics’. Students estimated 18.61/3600 hours, or 0.52% of their program would be spent on AI/ML education. Around half (46%) reported that they intended to learn about AI/ML as it pertained to mental health care. On 5-point Likert scale, students moderately agreed (median=4) that AI/M should be part of clinical psychology/psychotherapy education.ConclusionsEducation programs in clinical psychology/psychotherapy may lag developments in AI/ML-enabled tools in mental healthcare. This survey of postgraduate clinical psychology and psychotherapy students raises questions about how curricula could be enhanced to better prepare clinical psychology/psychotherapy trainees to engage in constructive debate about ethical and evidence-based issues pertaining to AI/ML tools, and in guiding patients on the use of online mental health services and apps.


2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista D. Bridgmon ◽  
William E. Martin ◽  
Aubree Alley ◽  
Rocky J. Montanari

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-106
Author(s):  
Emily J. Follwell ◽  
Siri Chunduri ◽  
Claire Samuelson-Kiraly ◽  
Nicholas Watters ◽  
Jonathan I. Mitchell

Although there are numerous quality of care frameworks, little attention has been given to the essential concepts that encompass quality mental healthcare. HealthCare CAN and the Mental Health Commission of Canada co-lead the Quality Mental Health Care Network (QMHCN), which has developed a quality mental healthcare framework, building on existing provincial, national, and international frameworks. HealthCare CAN conducted an environmental scan, key informant interviews, and focus groups with individuals with lived experiences to develop the framework. This article outlines the findings from this scan, interviews and focus groups.


2021 ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a
Author(s):  
Jade Sheen ◽  
Wendy Sutherland‐Smith ◽  
Emma Thompson ◽  
George J. Youssef ◽  
Amanda Dudley ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 009862832110138
Author(s):  
Brian Collisson ◽  
Brian E. Eck

Background: Career options available to psychology graduates are often underestimated despite psychology being a marketable and versatile degree with hundreds of career options. Objective: This article identifies which career options students perceive as available to psychology graduates and assesses student interest in psychology-related careers. Method: In Study 1, 12 focus groups consisting of 59 psychology majors were asked to list the career options available to psychology graduates. In Study 2, 430 psychology students rated their interest in 273 psychology-related careers. Results: Study 1 revealed careers perceived as available to psychology graduates were most often in counseling (92%) and applied-settings (50%) with child-related (42%), business (25%), and research (25%) careers listed less often. Study 2 revealed psychology majors were most interested in counseling and child-related careers, with 18 of their top 20 careers of interest involving mental health or working with children. Conclusion: Students are often unaware of career options in psychology beyond counseling. Consequently, they tend to be most interested in careers related to counseling and children, particularly careers involving the mental healthcare of children. Teaching Implications: Findings may encourage psychology departments to communicate the broad range of psychology career options for the recruitment and advising of psychology majors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Collisson ◽  
Brian E. Eck

Background: Career options available to psychology graduates are often underestimated despite psychology being a marketable and versatile degree with hundreds of career options.Objective: This article identifies which career options students perceive as available to psychology graduates and assesses student interest in psychology-related careers. Method: In Study 1, 12 focus groups consisting of 59 psychology majors were asked to list the career options available to psychology graduates. In Study 2, 430 psychology students rated their interest in 273 psychology-related careers. Results: Study 1 revealed careers perceived as available to psychology graduates were most often in counseling (92%) and applied-settings (50%) with child-related (42%), business (25%), and research (25%) careers listed less often. Study 2 revealed psychology majors were most interested in counseling and child-related careers, with 18 of their top 20 careers of interest involving mental health or working with children. Conclusion: Students are often unaware of career options in psychology beyond counseling. Consequently, they tend to be most interested in careers related to counseling and children, particularly careers involving the mental healthcare of children.Teaching Implications: Findings may encourage psychology departments to communicate the broad range of psychology career options for the recruitment and advising of psychology majors.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document