Mental health professionals are reporting an alarming new phenomenon: patients developing full-blown delusions after extended conversations with artificial intelligence chatbots, according to an investigation published by The New York Times on January 26, 2026.
Psychologist Julia Sheffield at Vanderbilt University Medical Center described treating seven patients by years end who began having conversations with AI chatbots, with the technology appearing to tip people from eccentric thoughts into genuine psychiatric delusions requiring clinical intervention.
The cases represent a troubling intersection of advancing AI technology and vulnerable mental health populations. Patients reported forming intense emotional attachments to AI conversational agents, with some believing the systems possessed consciousness or were communicating hidden messages specifically intended for them.
Dr. Sheffield noted that while eccentric beliefs are relatively common and not necessarily pathological, the interactions with AI systems appeared to crystalize these vague concerns into fixed, elaborate delusional systems that significantly impaired patients daily functioning and social relationships.
The phenomenon raises critical questions about the psychological safety of increasingly sophisticated AI chatbots designed to simulate human-like conversation. Unlike traditional computer programs with clearly mechanical interfaces, modern large language models can engage in remarkably fluid dialogue that may blur boundaries for susceptible individuals.
Mental health experts are calling for greater research into AI impacts on psychological wellbeing, particularly among populations with pre-existing vulnerabilities. They emphasize the need for clear warnings and safeguards in AI chatbot design, along with improved public education about the nature and limitations of these systems.
The American Psychiatric Association stated that while AI tools show promise for mental health support, the reported cases underscore the importance of human oversight and the irreplaceable value of trained clinicians in addressing complex psychological conditions.