Artificial intelligence impacts mental health and psychological well-being

The rise of artificial intelligence in mental health support has introduced both potential benefits and psychological risks. Experts note that AI can serve as a supportive tool, allowing individuals to express thoughts without fear of judgment and helping to organize emotions through writing. Some research from 2024 and 2025 suggests that AI-supported chat applications may lead to temporary reductions in loneliness, stress, and improved emotion regulation, though these effects are not considered permanent solutions for psychological well-being.

However, concerns are emerging regarding ‘AI psychosis,’ a term used to describe the potential for intense interaction with chatbots to trigger delusional thinking or a loss of reality. While not an official clinical diagnosis, observations suggest that continuous, unsupervised use of AI can lead to cognitive illusions, such as anthropomorphism—attributing human qualities to software—and a tendency for algorithms to provide excessive validation. Experts emphasize that while AI can model certain thought patterns for research purposes, it cannot replace professional clinical support or human relationships.