Natural language processing for mental health interventions: a systematic review and research framework

Neuropsychiatric disorders pose a high societal cost, but their treatment is hindered by lack of objective outcomes and fidelity metrics. AI technologies and specifically Natural Language Processing (NLP) have emerged as tools to study mental health interventions (MHI) at the level of their constituent conversations. However, NLP's potential to address clinical and research challenges remains unclear. We therefore conducted a pre-registered systematic review of NLP-MHI studies using PRISMA guidelines (osf.io/s52jh) to evaluate their models, clinical applications, and to identify biases and gaps. Candidate studies (n = 19,756), including peer-reviewed AI conference manuscripts, were collected up to January 2023…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: CNS-2025022, IIS-1901386
• BA
  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

  Award: INV-004841
• AF
  American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

  Award: PRG-0-104-19
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01MH125179, R44MH124334, 2KL2TR001446-06A1, R01MH125179-01
• OO
  Office of Naval Research

  Award: N00014-21-1-2154
• NI
  National Institute of Mental Health

  Award: 1K23MH134068-01