A “virtual friend” is seen on the screen of an iPhone in Arlington, Va., on April 30, 2020. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Clinicians should watch for signs that AI chatbots may be contributing to mental problems in some patients, as heavy reliance on these tools for emotional support can increase risks including “chatbot psychosis,” according to a study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
Some users may develop “high-risk” patterns in using artificial intelligence, including relying on chatbots for emotional support or treating them as companions, therapists, or authority figures, the study notes. Such behaviour may contribute to anxiety, negative beliefs, or thoughts of self-harm in vulnerable patients. Chatbots could also influence or reinforce disordered thinking in what the authors call “chatbot psychosis.”
