Technology & Psychiatry Committee

The Committee focuses on the intersections between the technology and psychiatry

Statement of Purpose

The Technology and Psychiatry (TAP) Committee leads the charge in integrating emerging technologies into psychiatry by creating and disseminating knowledge across various health technologies, including:

  • Informatics

  • Telehealth

  • Data Analytics

  • Social Media

  • Augmented/Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At the heart of TAP is the commitment to innovation. Our goals include:

  • Advancing knowledge: Through research, education, and synthesizing key issues.

  • Strengthening the evidence base: For technology’s role in psychiatric practice.

  • Disseminating knowledge: To both the public and professional leaders.

  • Fostering innovation: Encouraging the development of new technologies that enhance mental health care.

The committee values collaboration with other GAP committees and professional organizations active in health technologies.

What we do:

Our committee’s work spans several key areas:

  • Clinical Integration of Technology: Leveraging tools like telepsychiatry, mobile health (mHealth), and remote patient monitoring to enhance access, quality, and care delivery.

  • AI and Digital Therapeutics: Employing AI, social media, virtual reality (VR), and apps to reshape patient engagement and therapeutic strategies.

  • Health Information Technology (HIT): Promoting interoperability, privacy, security, and the efficient use of electronic health records (EHR).

  • Ethics and Regulation: Ensuring compliance with ethical, legal, and regulatory standards.

  • Business Models: Developing sustainable and transparent technology integration for psychiatric care.

TAP covers a broad range of areas to ensure the comprehensive integration of technology into psychiatric practice:

1) Clinical Practice and Care Delivery

  • Technology-enabled clinical care across the lifespan

  • Ensuring equitable, affordable, and high-quality care.

2) Research and Innovation

  • Exploring emerging technologies like AI and digital therapeutics.

  • Developing innovative research methodologies in digital psychiatry.

3) Education and Professional Development

  • Training the next generation of psychiatrists to engage ethically and professionally with technology.

4) Population Health and Public Policy

  • Shaping regulatory and compliance frameworks for technology in mental health care.

5) Technology Infrastructure and Implementation

  • Ensuring health information technology is interoperable, secure, and meets clinical needs.

6) Leadership and Administration

  • Defining business models that support technology-enhanced psychiatric care.

7) Ethics and Safety

  • Protecting privacy, ensuring security, and addressing ethical considerations in the use of digital tools.

Current projects:

TAP is leading several groundbreaking projects that are shaping the future of psychiatry:

1) Current State Analysis: Identifying gaps in knowledge and evaluating new technologies.

2) Standard of Care for Technology-Assisted Psychiatry: Ensuring technologies meet the highest clinical standards.

3) Telepsychiatry in Vulnerable Populations: Creating a comprehensive guide for telepsychiatry in underserved communities.

4) Web Portal Development: Building a clinic-ready repository of information and tools for clinicians.

5) Resource Index: Compiling key resources for the GAP website and publications like Psychiatric Times.

6) Consumer Guidelines: Protecting privacy and safety in digital mental health tools.

7) AI in Psychiatry: Exploring the potential of wellness apps and the future of AI in research.

8) Emerging Technologies: Developing guidelines and safeguards for cutting-edge technologies like VR and augmented reality.

9) EHR Improvement: Addressing clinical needs in the design of electronic health records.

10) Pain Points in Technology Integration: Identifying and resolving barriers to seamless technology adoption in clinical practice.

Victor Buwalda, Alexis Chavez, Mark D'Agostino, Anita Everett, Steve Hyler, Darlene King, Rob Kolodner, John Luo, Aida Mihlajovic, William Narrow, Ujjwal Ramtekekra, Sy Saeed (Chair), Manish Sapra, Andrea Waddell

Members: