A new research center called the Center for Responsible and Effective AI Technology Enhancement of Treatments for PTSD, or CREATE, has launched with the mission of using artificial intelligence to improve access to and quality of care for post-traumatic stress disorder in the United States. Co-directed by Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine, and Johannes Eichstaedt, a faculty fellow at the Institute for Human-Centered AI and assistant professor (research) of psychology at Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences, the initiative is backed by an $11.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. PTSD affects nearly 7% of U.S. adults, severely impacting mental and physical health and contributing to substantial societal costs. While proven psychotherapies exist, many individuals—particularly those in rural areas—lack access due to a shortage of trained providers and limited resources in public mental health systems. “Many agencies don’t have the capacity to train staff on new treatments, which means patients don’t get the care they need,” said Stirman. “Our goal is to expand access and improve the quality of care through technology.” CREATE will develop large language models (LLMs) designed to support clinicians and patients while adhering to strict standards for safety, privacy, and clinical effectiveness. Key projects include an LLM tool to help therapists learn and adopt new PTSD treatments, a patient-facing support system for practice between sessions, a chatbot to assist teams in implementing new care protocols, and an AI coach offering on-demand consultation for complex cases. The center brings together experts from Stanford, the Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, the Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research, Vanderbilt University, Rush University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas Health Sciences Center–San Antonio, New York University, and Dartmouth. The multidisciplinary team includes specialists in clinical psychology, implementation science, computer science, ethics, biostatistics, and health economics. A central principle of the work is that AI should assist, not replace, human clinicians. “LLMs aren’t ready to be standalone therapists, but they can significantly enhance human care,” said Eichstaedt. The team is actively collaborating with mental health professionals, PTSD survivors, and community organizations—including a veteran community initiative in Philadelphia—to ensure the tools are practical, ethical, and user-centered. “We’re committed to including the voices of those who live with PTSD and those who treat them,” said Stirman. “Their insights are critical to building effective and trustworthy systems.” The center aims to reduce the burden of PTSD on individuals and society while setting a precedent for how AI can be responsibly used to advance mental health care across a range of conditions. With strong institutional support and a diverse, expert team, CREATE is positioned to lead a new wave of AI-driven improvements in behavioral health.