TraumaScope AI

This project uses AI to detect PTSD in those in wars and other traumatic situations. The AI model is trained to give a score and know how to answer questions, helping doctors make quick diagnoses as it usually takes a few days and sometimes weeks. This di
Mariam Badawy Mayar Hamid
Grade 9

Problem

The goal of this project is to create an online system that analyzes self-reported data and behavioural assessments using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify early indicators of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Many people lack access to adequate care because these diseases are frequently left untreated in areas with little access to mental health professionals. The technology would enable early diagnosis and intervention by using AI to identify at-risk individuals based on behavioural patterns. This will provide timely medical assistance, including non-pharmaceutical treatments like lifestyle changes and self-help techniques. This strategy fills the gap in mental health services and provides helpful assistance in areas of healthcare with high demand but limited resources.

Method

To make this project possible we will be using the following online materials:

  • SQLite
  • Python
  • Flask (web framework to create an online interface)
  • DB Browser for SQLite (graphic interface used to view and edit the database)
  • VS Code (app for writing python)

 

Diagnostic system:

To try to make this diagnosis as accurate as possible, we will program the AI to detect certain words that indicate the presence of one of the mental disorder.The general way of diagnosing mental disorders is by understanding and monitoring patients symptoms as there are no physical medical tests that can show mental disorders, other than interviewing, questioning and monitoring .We will use questions to predict the diagnosis through the answers, if answers show symptoms of mental disorder the AI would inform the patient of their predicted diagnoses and of what to do next.


 

This program will be reviewed by health professionals to ensure accuracy

 

Analysis

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial Intelligence also known as AI is a technology that imitates human intelligence . Artificial intelligence was introduced around the 1950s and over the years advanced to be the AI we know now. The main idea was that machines use information we provide  to make decisions like how humans do. AI can also store information which it can later use as a new skill from its memory which make it extremely similar to the human brain. It can now power self-driving cars, chatbots, image generators, and laptops.

 

Mental disorders:

Anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression are all examples of mental disorders. Mental disorders are health conditions that affect your thinking, mood, and behavior.  Many people experience mental health concerns, but when there are uncontrollable symptoms it can become uncomfortable and cause additional stress. Mental Disorders are usually controlled with medication and therapy, however there are now other non-pharmacological solutions.

 

Depression:

Depression often referred to as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that can cause persistent feelings of sadness and incuriousness which disturbs your feelings, thinking, and behaviour. People who have depression often tend to feel that life is not worth living and they have trouble doing their normal day-to-day activities. Depression causes a lot of physical and emotional harm to people, but there are now a lot of treatments for depression such  as medication or psychotherapy( treatment for mental condition by talking and interacting). The causes of depression are not exactly known, but it could possibly be caused by unstable hormones or inherited traits.

 

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder caused by past traumatic events. People who go through traumatic events often have a hard time adjusting back to their normal life, they may have a series of symptoms related to PTSD including having dreams or nightmares about a traumatic event, getting emotional distress to something that reminds you of a traumatic event or trying not to talk or think about a traumatic event and many others. PTSD is often treated with medication and different therapies.

 

Anxiety:

Anxiety is a mental disorder which makes people worry and fear about everyday experiences. Anxiety disorders include sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or panic attacks. Although being anxious is a normal feeling, the panic that comes with anxiety disorders could get in the way of daily tasks. Feeling nervous, starting to panic or having an increased heart rate  are all things you might experience with anxiety disorders .There are many different kinds of anxiety disorders, however the main way of coping with the symptoms are by taking medication, going to different types of therapy and other non-pharmacological solutions.



 

Anxiety Diagnostic System 

 

Anxiety symptoms:

  • Feeling nervous 
  • Having a sense of  panic 
  • Having an increased heart rate
  • hyperventilation
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Feeling weak 
  • Trouble concentrating 
  •  Trouble sleeping
  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
  • Having a hard time controlling worry
  • Trying to avoid things that trigger anxiety


 

Questions:

 

In the last 2 weeks have you been…

  1. Feeling anxious, nervous, or on edge
  2. Not able to control or stop your worrying
  3. Having trouble relaxing
  4. Having trouble to sit still (feeling restless)
  5. Over worrying about various things
  6. Becoming easily annoyed or irritated
  7. Having a bad feeling that something will happen to you or those around you

 

Each question must be answered from a scale of 0-3…

0: Not at all

1: Several days

2: More than half the days

3: Nearly every day

 

0-4: Minimal anxiety

5-9: Mild anxiety

10-14: Moderate anxiety

15-21: Severe anxiety

 

We will be taking questions from this trusted source which was suggested by a health professional 

https://adaa.org/sites/default/files/GAD-7_Anxiety-updated_0.pdf

 

Depression Diagnostic System 

 

Depression symptoms:

 

  • Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Loss of interest in normal activities
  • Feeling tired often
  • Having no appetite
  • Restlessness
  • Slow movement and thinking
  • Feeling guilty and self-blaming
  • Having trouble concentrating and thinking 
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Physical problems such as back pain and headaches


 

Questions:

 

In the last 2 weeks how often have you been bothered by the following problems…

  1. Little interest or pleasure in doing activities
  2. Feeling sad, depressed, ore hopeless
  3. Trouble falling asleep/staying asleep or sleeping too much
  4. Having little energy and feeling tired often
  5. Feeling that you are a failure and that you have let yourself and/or everyone down
  6. Having trouble concentrating on things such as the television and newspaper
  7. Being too fidgety and restless or speaking and moving too slow
  8. Thought you would be better of dead or hurt

 

Each question must be answered from a scale of 0-3…

0: Not at all

1: Several days

2: More than half the days

3: Nearly every day

 

0-4: None-minimal 

5-9: Mild 

10-14: Moderate 

15-21: Moderately severe

20-27: Severe

 

We will be taking questions from this trusted source which was suggested by a health professional

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/guidelines/depression_patient_health

 

PTSD Diagnostic System

 

PTSD Symptoms:

 

Generally, PTSD symptoms are grouped into four types…

 

Intrusive Memories — Avoidance — Mood & Thinking  — Physical & Emotional Reactions

 

  • Memories/flashbacks of a traumatic event
  • Dreams or nightmares about a traumatic event
  • Emotional distress and/or reactions to something that reminds you of a traumatic event
  • Trying not to talk or think about a traumatic event
  • Staying away from people or places that remind you of a traumatic event
  • Negative thoughts about everything (you, other people, the world)
  • Feeling anger, guilt, or shame
  • Memory problems — not remembering key aspects of a traumatic event
  • Feeling detached from those around you
  • Being uninterested in activities you once liked/enjoyed
  • Having a hard time feeling happy
  • Feeling emotionally numb
  • Being easily startled or frightened
  • Always being on guard for danger
  • Self-destructive behaviour
  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Sweating, shaking, having a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing

 

Questions:

 

In the past month have you…

  1. Had nightmares or thoughts of a traumatic event when you did not want to
  2. Tried your best not to think about a traumatic event or avoid things that remind you of a traumatic event
  3. Have been constantly cautious, watchful, or easily startled
  4. Feel numb or detached from people, activities, or your surroundings
  5. Blaming yourself or others for a traumatic event or any problem(s) the an event might have caused

 

These questions are answered with a yes or no. Each yes answered is 1 point. If there are 4 or more points than PTSD is indicated and  further evaluation must be completed by a doctor.

 

We will be taking questions from this trusted source which was suggested by a health professional

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/documents/pc-ptsd5-screen.pdf

 

After the prediction is complete it will provide medical advice based on results and severity


 

Medical Advice and Non-Pharmaceutical Temporary Solutions

 

Anxiety Non-pharmaceutical Temporary Solution:

  • Relaxation techniques
  • Correct breathing techniques
  • Dietary adjustments
  • Physical activity (exercise)
  • Building self-esteem
  • Exposure therapy
  • Support groups

 

Depression Non-pharmaceutical Temporary Solutions:

  • Herbal remedies 
  • Acupuncture (ancient Chinese method of healing)
  • Reflexology (applying pressure to different pressure points of the hands, feet, face, etc.)
  • Physical activity (exercise)
  • Meditation
  • Massage
  • Yoga
  • Deep breathing

 

PTSD Non-pharmaceutical Temporary Solution:

Trauma focused therapies such as…

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET) 
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Restructuring (EMDR)

 

Cognitive Therapy: This kind of talk therapy supports you in identifying the cognitive patterns—or ways of thinking—that are preventing you from moving forward. Negative self-perception and the possibility that traumatic events will occur again are two examples. Cognitive therapy is frequently used together with exposure therapy for PTSD.

 

Exposure Therapy: This therapy is used to help people safely face memories and situations that remind you of a traumatic event so you can learn to cope with them. This therapy is done very precisely and it is controllable and predictable. One approach uses virtual reality (VR) to allow you to reenter the setting in which the traumatic event was experienced.

 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Restructuring: An organized treatment that promotes the patient to experience bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements) while focusing on the trauma memory for a brief period of time. This is linked to a decrease in the emotional intensity and vividness of the trauma memories. 

 

Sucidal Risk Questions:

  1. What are some of the aspects of your life that make it worth living?
  2. Have you ever thought of harming yourself  in any way?

 

Answers That May Indicate High Suicidal Risk:

  1. I am unsure if life is worth living at all.
  2. Yes , I have.

Conclusion

This project successfully demonstrates how technology can be used to solve mental health challenges in areas with limited access to mental health specialists. By combining Python and SQL, we created a system that collects and analyzes self-reported data and behavioral assessments to detect early signs of mental health disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, and depression. This project can bridge the gap in mental health services due to its ability to provide non-pharmaceutical treatments and early intervention strategies. While this system is just a starting point, we feel it has the potential to grow and become more advanced by integrating more AI features and expanding the database. This project highlights how programming and problem-solving can help make a difference in people's lives.

 

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge our teacher Ms. Behairy for giving us the motivation to complete this project. We would also like to acknowledge the 2 local doctors that helped test this project to ensure accuracy.

Attachments

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