Psychology Today on AI Therapy Risks and the Bromide Case

Information only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. In a crisis in the US, call or text 988.

Many people now turn to chatbots for emotional support, because they are free, private and always awake. That is understandable. This page looks at what a July 2025 Psychology Today article, and other sources, say about the risks of using AI as a therapist, and what to do instead when you need help.

AI chatbots are not licensed therapists. “AI psychosis” and “AI addiction” are not formal diagnoses.

If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (U.S.), text HOME to 741741, or call 911 in an emergency. SAMHSA’s helpline is 1-800-662-4357.

The Rise of AI Therapy

The Psychology Today article, written by psychiatrist Martha Koo, says people like AI therapy for its low cost, anonymity and 24/7 access (Psychology Today). Those are real advantages, and finding a human therapist can be slow and expensive.

One number from the article needs a caution. It says 22 percent of American adults have found some relief from mental health chatbots. That figure comes from a 2022 Psychiatric News report, before today’s chatbots, so it should not be read as current use. We could not read the original report.

Where AI Therapy Can Go Wrong

It May Agree Too Much

The article warns that some chatbots validate whatever a person says. That is risky for someone with suicidal thoughts, mania or delusions, because a good clinician sometimes needs to challenge a thought. Danish psychiatrist Søren Dinesen Østergaard has said he is “fundamentally sceptical” about replacing a trained psychotherapist with a chatbot (Aarhus University).

It Can Give Unsafe Advice

In 2023, the National Eating Disorders Association took down its chatbot Tessa after reports that it gave weight-loss tips to people with eating disorders. We relied on the Psychology Today summary and could not read the original coverage.

A lawsuit filed in October 2024 alleges that a Character.AI chatbot played a part in a 14-year-old’s death. These are allegations in a court case, not findings. Character.AI is a companion platform, not a therapy service.

It Can Mislead You About Your Health

A widely reported 2025 case report describes a 60-year-old man who developed bromide poisoning, with paranoia and hallucinations, after swapping table salt for sodium bromide. He told doctors he had asked ChatGPT about it. The authors did not have his chat logs (NBC News). The lesson is about health advice from a chatbot, not about chatbots creating psychosis.

Your Data May Not Be Private

Psychology Today notes the BetterHelp case. In 2023 the Federal Trade Commission ordered BetterHelp, an online therapy service with human therapists, to pay $7.8 million after it shared health questionnaire answers with advertising companies (FTC). BetterHelp is not an AI tool. The point is that mental health information can be sold or shared. Read privacy terms before you tell any app something personal.

The American Psychological Association’s 2025 advisory on chatbots and wellness apps says these tools should not replace care from a trained professional (APA). Using an AI for light tasks, such as a mood log or a breathing prompt, is a different thing from using it to treat depression, trauma or psychosis.

Safer Ways to Use AI for Support

Treat it as a journal, not a clinician.
Do not follow health, medicine or diet advice without checking a doctor or pharmacist.
Do not share names, addresses or other identifying details.
If it is the only place you talk about feelings, add one human, even a friend.
Seek a professional if symptoms last more than two weeks or affect sleep, work or school.

Finding Human Help

Your doctor, a community mental health clinic, a school or workplace counseling service, or the treatment locator at FindTreatment.gov are good places to start. Many therapists offer sliding-scale fees.

Is it safe to use ChatGPT as a therapist?

General chatbots are not designed or licensed to treat mental illness. They can be a place to organize your thoughts. For depression, trauma, suicidal thoughts or psychosis, see a professional.

Was the bromide case the first AI psychosis case?

No one has established that. It was a poisoning case with psychiatric symptoms, and the chatbot’s role rests on the patient’s account.

What if I cannot afford therapy?

Ask about sliding-scale fees, community clinics and school or workplace programs. 988 is free at any hour.

This page is for education only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan.