Patients are bringing AI to therapy

An American Psychological Association survey of more than 1,200 U.S. psychologists found that 77% reported patients discussing AI use for emotional support, diagnosis, or companionship. Thirty-nine percent said patients used chatbots to self-diagnose mental health conditions, while 35% reported patients treating AI as an additional mental health professional.

More than a third of psychologists observed patients developing dependency on chatbots, and 15% reported cases of distorted thinking or delusions tied to AI interactions. Twenty-two percent of psychologists said patients used AI for friendship, while 13% reported intimate relationships with chatbots—71% of whom discussed mental health with the AI.