Validation of Psychotic or Schizotypal Symptoms

Description

AI responses appear to affirm unusual beliefs rather than support reality testing.

Rationale

AI systems are not designed as clinical tools and are not equipped to perform psychosis assessment or safe crisis response. When AI responses appear to validate unusual beliefs rather than redirect toward reality, the AI is inadvertently functioning as a psychosis amplifier. Identifying these interactions is necessary to understand the clinical context of the AI use.

Evidence Base

• The Human-AI Cognitive Relationship: The Dominant Threat Vector of the Next Decade

  Varga, 2026. The Human-AI Cognitive Relationship: The Dominant Threat Vector of the Next Decade. AI and Advanced Tech, null, pages. null.

  Commentary / Editorial

• A scoping review on the mental health harms of LLM-based chatbots

  Diel A, Torous J, Cuijpers P, Kleesiek J, Nensa F, Weber N, Faust F, Lalgi TJ, Mellis FS, Teufel M, Bäuerle A, 2024. A scoping review on the mental health harms of LLM-based chatbots. npj Digital Medicine, 9(644). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-026-03054-x

  Peer-reviewed study (original research)

• Psychotic episode concurrent with interaction with a large language model (llm): a case report

  Başaran, A.S., Coşar, B. 2026. Psychotic episode concurrent with interaction with a large language model (llm): a case report. BMC Psychiatry, 26(1), pages. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08288-3

  Case report / case series

• Artificial intelligence-associated delusions and large language models: risks, mechanisms of delusion co-creation, and safeguarding strategies

  Hamilton Morrin, MBBS, Luke Nicholls, MAc, Prof Michael Levin, PhD, Prof Jenny Yiend, PhD, Udita Iyengar, PhD, Francesca DelGuidice, MBA, et al., 2026. Artificial intelligence-associated delusions and large language models: risks, mechanisms of delusion co-creation, and safeguarding strategies. The Lancet Psychiatry, 13(6), 522-530.

  Peer-reviewed study (original research)

• Building safer artificial intelligence mental health chatbots: a framework for transparency, evaluation, and shared accountability

  Hannah Lee, BS, Rebecca Handler, MSc, Tushar Mungle, PhD, Tina Hernandez-Boussard, PhD, 2026. Building safer artificial intelligence mental health chatbots: a framework for transparency, evaluation, and shared accountability. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 33(8), 1538–1553. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocag078

  Peer-reviewed study (original research)

• Beyond Misuse: Artificial Intelligence, Grievance, and the Future Landscape of Political Violence

  Yannick Veilleux-Lepage, 2026. Beyond Misuse: Artificial Intelligence, Grievance, and the Future Landscape of Political Violence. CTC Sentinel, 2(4), pages 1-3.

  Peer-reviewed study (original research)

• AI chatbot-associated psychiatric symptoms: a narrative review of publicly available reports and media accounts

  Arun, A., Trinh, C., & IsHak, W. W., 2026. AI chatbot-associated psychiatric symptoms: a narrative review of publicly available reports and media accounts. Discover Mental Health, Article in Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-026-00619-w

  Narrative review

• Characterizing Artificial Intelligence Psychosis in a Large Medical Setting

  Bergson Z, Vassall SG, Wright A, McCoy AB, Schafer KM, Achee MC, Sheffield JM, 2026. Characterizing Artificial Intelligence Psychosis in a Large Medical Setting. JAMA Psychiatry, Published online October 7, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.2923.

  Peer-reviewed study (original research)