Thinking Together: GenAI and the Neuropsychologist - Dougal Phillips

Every neuropsychologist knows the feeling: you’re holding a dozen threads at once — test data, behavioural observations, and personal histories — and trying to weave them into something coherent, perceptive, and helpful. Now imagine a tool that lightens that load. One that can summarise relevant research, translate medical jargon, or role-play a therapy scenario in seconds. That’s generative AI, or “GenAI”.

What GenAI Actually Does

Think of GenAI as a fast, flexible support tool. Feed it a complex article and it can draft a summary. Ask for age-appropriate psychoeducation materials and it’ll offer options you can tweak. Want to practise explaining a tricky diagnosis to a patient? Describe the context, do a role-play with the AI, then ask it for practical feedback.

GenAI tools use large language models like ChatGPT to generate text, images, and other content from plain-English prompts. For around $30 a month, platforms like OpenAI give access to several models. GenAI is fast. It’s surprisingly intuitive. But it works best when paired with clinical oversight.

Partnership, Not Delegation

Here’s the important bit: GenAI is capable, but not infallible. Think of it as a gifted intern — quick, creative, occasionally a bit too confident. It might mistake correlation for causation or generate something that sounds right but isn’t. Used wisely, it’s a partner, not a replacement. As the neuropsychologist, you bring clinical expertise, ethical judgment, and contextual insight. GenAI brings speed, flexibility, and a fresh perspective.

Ethical Essentials

It’s important to be transparent about when and how GenAI is used in healthcare. That means being upfront, staying across how patient information is handled, and ensuring tools are used in line with the Australian Privacy Principles. It also means checking for bias. Do these tools work fairly across diverse clients? Can they amplify inequity without you realising? It’s still early days. The regulatory picture is shifting. But how we use GenAI now helps shape what comes next.

The Human Touch Remains

If you want to try GenAI, there’s no need to overhaul your practice overnight. Start small. Use it to draft a letter, test a few metaphors, or clarify a tricky paragraph. You’ll quickly get a feel for where it helps and where your own judgment remains essential.

Used well, GenAI can help free up a neuropsychologist’s time and attention by handling routine tasks like documentation. That lets us focus more fully on what matters: being present, thinking clearly, and better understanding the person in front of us.