Psychosis in the Age of Large Language Models (LLMs): A Narrative Review of the Proposed Construct of AI-Induced Psychosis
Cureus June 30, 2026 Terry Xiyuan Tong, Zoe Zixuan Gong, Sharon Ying Yao
A hypothesized phenomenon called AI-induced psychosis may arise from intensive interaction with AI chatbots, though it is not yet a validated clinical entity. The authors propose a human-AI delusional feedback loop where AI sycophancy amplifies emotional vulnerabilities like loneliness, anxiety, and depression, potentially co-constructing and consolidating delusional beliefs. Drawing on distributed cognition theory and the Computers Are Social Actors paradigm, AI chatbots may function as both a cognitive tool and a relational "Quasi-Other," providing sycophantic verification that transforms delusional beliefs into apparent shared reality. Four recurring delusional themes are tentatively identified. The review aims to lay groundwork for clinical recognition and guide future empirical investigation.