LOS ANGELES. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping modern healthcare, and a newly published international study suggests it could play a significant role in improving the care of hospitalized patients living with mental illness. Published in Discover Public Health, a Springer Nature journal, the peer-reviewed research examines how artificial intelligence can enhance psychiatric diagnosis, personalize treatment planning, improve patient monitoring, and increase operational efficiency within hospitals.
The study, titled “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Managing Hospitalized Patients with Mental Illness: A Scoping Review,” was first-authored by Md Samiun of International American University, California, in collaboration with researchers from Westcliff University, California State University Long Beach, St. Francis College, and the Miyan Research Institute at the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology.
Mental health disorders remain one of the world’s leading public health challenges. According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people worldwide live with a mental health disorder. Growing demand for psychiatric services, combined with workforce shortages and rising healthcare costs, has intensified interest in artificial intelligence as a clinical decision-support technology.
The research team conducted a comprehensive scoping review of literature published between 2015 and 2025. After systematically screening the available evidence, the researchers analyzed 24 eligible studies to evaluate how artificial intelligence is being used in psychiatric inpatient care.
The review found that machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, predictive analytics, digital phenotyping, and AI-powered clinical decision support systems have the potential to improve diagnosis, personalize treatment, predict patient risks, enhance monitoring, and optimize hospital operations.
Rather than replacing psychiatrists or healthcare professionals, the study concludes that AI can function as a decision-support technology that helps clinicians identify meaningful patterns in complex healthcare data, supporting faster and more informed clinical decisions.
For the United States, the findings may help inform future development of AI-assisted behavioral healthcare systems capable of improving efficiency, supporting earlier intervention, reducing avoidable hospital readmissions, and strengthening evidence-based mental health care. Similar advances could also benefit healthcare systems worldwide as demand for psychiatric services continues to grow.
The publication highlights both the opportunities and the challenges associated with AI adoption in mental healthcare. The authors identify algorithmic bias, patient privacy, cybersecurity, transparency, and ethical oversight as critical considerations that must accompany responsible implementation.
According to the publication, Md Samiun contributed to study conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, visualization, and preparation of the original manuscript as part of the international research team.
The authors conclude that artificial intelligence has significant potential to complement clinical expertise, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen healthcare delivery while emphasizing that continued research, ethical safeguards, and multidisciplinary collaboration remain essential for responsible implementation.
Reference: Samiun, M., Rony, M.K.K., Yeasmin, S., et al. The role of artificial intelligence in managing hospitalized patients with mental illness: a scoping review. Discover Public Health (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00814-0
