Bridging technology and empathy through artificial intelligence

This case report highlights the experience of a 21-year-old apprentice in a carpentry workshop who developed sub-threshold anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) following a minor workplace injury. After an incident where a wood splinter entered his eye, the patient’s psychological condition worsened, manifesting heightened anxiety, somatizations, and hypochondriacal thoughts, significantly impairing his ability to work. Despite an initial face-to-face medical evaluation, subclinical symptoms went unnoticed, delaying the diagnosis. The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into the diagnostic process, via a customized digital system, facilitated the administration of neuropsychological assessments and provided real-time clarification of diagnostic questionnaire items. This AI-assisted approach identified previously unreported symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, and insomnia, leading to a timely diagnosis of anxiety disorder comorbid with OCD. Early intervention, combining pharmacological treatment (sertraline, clomipramine, and valproic acid) and cognitive-behavioral therapy, rapidly alleviated the patient’s symptoms. This case demonstrates the potential of AI in enhancing diagnostic precision for mental health disorders in occupational settings, reducing stigma, and expediting treatment, thus improving patient outcomes and supporting workplace mental health initiatives.