[Clinical applications of data processing in psychiatry].

The reduction of computer costs and the introduction of micro- computers have brought about an irreversible change in all the domains of occidental life. Research in the applications of computing in psychiatry has been going on for more than twenty years. The computer can assist the psychiatrist in many areas of his clinical work. This article reviews the applications of computers in domains such as psychological testing, patient interviews, diagnosis, evaluating psychopharmacological and behavioral treatments, evaluating patient progress, education of professionals, and patient and psychic simulation models, simulation which can also be used for education. Problems met when implementing such programs are also discussed; and finally, we explore some avenues of development and make some recommendations.