Akshara Rajesh

Can AI-based technology be an alternative to human therapists for diagnosing anxiety disorders in children and adults?

Started July 31, 2025

Abstract or project description

Anxiety disorders are some of the most prevalent psychiatric conditions globally and can appear in many different ways with a wide range of symptoms. Access to mental health care is often limited by cost, availability, and cultural norms, which highlights the importance of having alternative methods for people who need them. This project investigates whether AI can provide accurate and reliable diagnoses for anxiety disorders. While previous research has shown that AI has potential in detecting conditions such as depression and suicide risk, questions remain about how consistently accurate and reliable these tools are for diagnosis of anxiety disorders across the lifespan. To answer this question, this project will input different anxiety case reports (panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder) into a variety of chatbots (ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, Microsoft Co-Pilot, and Gemini) and analyze the responses. The findings could have important implications for expanding access to mental health care, improving early detection, and supporting clinical practice, while also highlighting areas where caution and further research are necessary.