The future of child and adolescent psychiatry in France (2026–2050): An AI-assisted qualitative action research study

French child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) faces significant issues, primarily due to an overwhelming increase in demand and insufficient capacity. In response, the French society for child and adolescent psychiatry and allied professions (SFPEADA) initiated an action research project in June 2023 aimed at reimagining the future of CAP in France for the second quarter of the twenty-first century (2026-2050). Employing a holistic qualitative methodology that merges bottom-up and top-down approaches, the project progressed through four phases: interviews with informed individuals, consultations with trade unions or associations, synthesis of findings using thematic analysis and AI technologies, and public dissemination via a symposium at the Ministry of Health. The project identified 5 main themes: "CAP and society", "knowledge integration", "healthcare delivery", "caregivers", "system organization". By underscoring the importance of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to addressing the pressing needs of child and adolescent mental healthcare in France, this initiative advocates for significant systemic changes to enhance CAP's efficacy and accessibility.