Artificial Intelligence and Depression: An Emerging Scenario and New Way to Realize Human and Fundamental Right to Mental Well-Being

Abstract

Mental disorders are affecting more and more people around the world, and affected around one billion individuals until 2019. Depression alone, one of the most common mental disorders, is responsible for the illness of more than 300 million people worldwide, and Brazil has the highest prevalence in Latin America and the second highest in the Americas. Depression is a major cause of disability, and absence from work, family and social life. Unlike physical illnesses, which can be diagnosed through examinations, tests and other objective means, mental disorders do not have a known etiology and can be caused by the interaction of genetic, psychological, biological,  environmental and social factors. Thus, they are diagnosed based on information provided by the patient and the experience of the health professional. Using the hypothetical-deductive method and bibliographical, exploratory and documentary methodology, this article analyzed the use of artificial intelligence as a tool to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, as na instrument for the realization of the human and fundamental right to mental health. Since it can manipulate and process personal and non-personal data and information to a greater extent than humans, the use of artificial intelligence is emerging as a promising reality for the early detection of diagnoses under limited, precise and safe conditions, with the possibility of early and more appropriate interventions.