AI Psychosis: What Is Known About Chatbots and Delusions

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

This is a short summary of what has been reported about chatbots and delusions, written for readers who want the facts without the alarm. For more detail, see our longer page on the Danish psychiatrist’s warning.

“AI psychosis” is a media phrase. It is not a diagnosis.

The Short Version

In 2023, psychiatrist Søren Dinesen Østergaard suggested in an editorial that chatbots could feed delusions in people prone to psychosis (Schizophrenia Bulletin). He called his examples hypothetical.
In 2025 he wrote that he had since heard from users, relatives and journalists describing similar episodes (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica).
In 2026, an Aarhus University review of health records from about 54,000 patients found 38 where chatbot use seemed to have harmed them. Worsened delusions were the most common harm. The authors say it cannot prove cause (Aarhus University).

Why the Word “Surge” Is Hard to Support

No one has counted how many people are affected. News coverage has grown, and doctors may now be asking about chatbots more often, so more reports does not prove more cases. Reports so far are anecdotes, case reports and record reviews.

What Reports Describe

The cases described in the media include people who came to believe a chatbot was divine, that they had a mission, or that reality was a simulation. Some involved long sessions and little sleep. Names of private individuals and unverified details are left out.

What Experts Ask For

Østergaard has called for clinical case series and experiments that vary how much a chatbot agrees with users. Researchers at King’s College London have proposed that clinicians routinely ask patients about AI use.

If You Are Worried

If a chatbot conversation is feeding frightening or fixed beliefs, tell a doctor or someone you trust. For a crisis, call or text 988, text HOME to 741741, or call 911.

Are AI psychosis cases rising?

Reports have increased, but nobody has measured the true number. Greater awareness could explain part of the rise.

Is this an emergency for most chatbot users?

No. Most people who use chatbots, even often, do not develop delusions. Watch for changes in sleep, beliefs and behavior, and get help if they appear.

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