AI Algorithm for Depression Diagnosis via MRI Gains Japanese Approval

Japan approves AI software that uses MRI scans to identify depression, aiming to make diagnosis more objective.

Key Details

• AI algorithm detects signs of depression by analyzing MRI brain scans.
• Developed by the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International in Japan.
• Software provides visual evidence of brain activity alterations linked to depression.
• Regulatory approval granted in Japan; type not specified (likely a medical device approval).
• Conventional depression diagnoses typically rely on subjective patient reports and interviews.

Why It Matters

Objective tools for diagnosing depression could improve accuracy, standardization, and treatment selection in mental health care. The approval highlights expanding clinical roles for imaging AI, especially in neuropsychiatric applications.

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