Researchers from Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) have begun participation in an international research project, Digital Innovation in the Assessment of Schizophrenia: Integration of Artificial Intelligence Language Analysis and Neural Biomarkers to Improve the Efficiency of Psychiatric Diagnostics (DISA‑LNT), in order to develop an artificial intelligence application that provides support to patients with schizophrenia.
The research project will promote patient adherence to treatment, introduce innovative solutions into clinical practice, and contribute to the transformation of European healthcare systems. In the implementation of this project, RSU is cooperating with partners from Portugal, Malta, and Poland, thereby expanding international experience and strengthening scientific collaboration.
AI and natural language processing will enhance patient assessment
In the research project, an initial assessment will be carried out using a variety of standard schizophrenia assessment instruments, as well as Natural Language Processing, which helps analyze the patient’s expression and language structure. This approach makes it possible to obtain additional structured information about the patient’s condition, complementing the clinical assessment.
Based on the assessment results, a digitally supported cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention will be developed. The project envisages the development of digital therapeutic collaboration, where the technological solution will strengthen the connection between the patient and the specialist and promote patient adherence to the treatment process.
The application is being developed by an interdisciplinary team
From the RSU side, the research project is led by the head of the Psychology Laboratory, Associate Professor Jeļena Koļesņikova. She emphasizes:
“In this project, the interdisciplinary team is particularly important, in which researchers from the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and IT jointly develop an innovative mobile application. It is based on the components of the therapeutic alliance, which include CBT interventions, while artificial intelligence solutions complement standard assessment methods, providing a deeper understanding of the patient’s condition.”
Contribution to the development of digital therapy and clinical validation
In the project, RSU provides a significant contribution to the development of the digital therapeutic alliance and the creation of CBT intervention content, as well as participates in the clinical validation of the tool, data analysis, and communication of research results. The project involves specialists from the RSU Psychology Laboratory, the Department of Health Psychology and Pedagogy, and the Department of Psychiatry and Narcology.
A significant role in the project is also played by the RSU Clinic of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, which, as a clinical base, closely cooperates with colleagues in psychiatry. This cooperation ensures a direct link with patient care and clinical practice, thereby strengthening the project’s practical and scientific value, as well as promoting the implementation of innovations in the real treatment process.
The research project will be implemented over a period of 30 months, including the development of the digital application, clinical validation, and the evaluation of the possibilities for implementing the results.
