In the News

A group of child safety and mental health experts recently tested simulated youth mental health conversations with four major artificial intelligence chatbots and found them to be unsafe for teen mental health support, as outlined in a report released by Common Sense Media. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

For many people, the afternoon is a dreaded time of day when energy slumps, concentration fizzles and stress builds. To counteract the midday gloom, consider a brief yoga break. Christiane Brems, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides tips in this NY Times article.

Teenagers are being exposed to graphic content at unprecedented rates. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Professor, by courtesy, of Health Policy, provides comment.

On September 30, the Spectrum CTSA Office of Community Engagement and the School of Medicine Research Office hosted the 23rd Annual Community Health Symposium, uniting nearly 300 healthcare professionals, community leaders, faculty, staff, and students to tackle critical issues in community health. This year's symposium emphasized the unwavering commitment of the School of Medicine’s Research Office and the Spectrum CTSA to tackling variations in health outcomes and enhancing healthcare access for all populations. Dr. Ruth O’Hara, School of Medicine Senior Associate Dean for Research, Principal Investigator of Spectrum CTSA, and Lowell W. and Josephine Q. Berry Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, delivered opening remarks, with colleague Dr. Lisa Goldman Rosas, that highlighted the essential role of collaborative research in driving impactful community health initiatives.

"Research shows that they are not hitting social and emotional milestones compared to previous generations." Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed on the increased use of AI chatbots.

We are at the very beginning of the chatbot era. ChatGPT is three years old; Twitter was about the same age when it formally introduced the retweet. Product development will continue, and companions will look and sound more lifelike. They will know more about us and become more compelling in conversation. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.