Precision diagnostics of mental health disorders using machine learning

Principal Investigator: Dr. Bo Cao

Affiliation: University of Alberta

Start Year: 2024

This project is being led by Yutong Li, a graduate student at the University of Alberta.

Mental health disorders contribute significantly to global disability, accounting for 125.3 million years of healthy life lost in 2019. Despite their widespread prevalence (12,262 in 100,000 in 2019), current therapies often adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, overlooking critical factors like age, sex, environment, and socioeconomic status. Researchers are recognizing the need for personalized solutions and pioneering precision health – a paradigm shift in mental health treatment. Researchers are leveraging artificial intelligence and CanPath data to develop a new individualized mental health screening tool. This innovative approach not only enhances treatment effectiveness but also sheds light on how individuals’ backgrounds influence mental health outcomes, potentially identifying those at higher risk of developing mental health disorders in the future.