What does this research mean for the field?

Individuals with bipolar disorder can develop complex, emotionally intimate relationships with AI chatbots for mental health support, which may provide perceived therapeutic benefits but risks shifting trust away from human clinicians and fostering overreliance. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the perceived utility, attachment patterns, and clinical risks of commercial AI chatbots used by individuals with bipolar disorder for self-reflection and mental health support.

August 29, 2026Bipolar DisordersOpen Access

A Shift in Trust: An Analysis of the Use of AI Chatbots Among People Living With Bipolar Disorder

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Authors

KBKatherine BassilUniversity Medical Center Utrecht SPSuzanne PrinsUniversity Medical Center Utrecht HOHine van OsUniversity Medical Center Utrecht

Discussion

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals trust shifts toward AI chatbots in bipolar disorder, highlighting risks of overreliance over professional care.

Key Points

To examine the perceived utility, attachment patterns, and clinical risks of commercial AI chatbots used by individuals with bipolar disorder for self-reflection and mental health support.
Conducted semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews with two individuals (N=2) diagnosed with bipolar disorder who independently used ChatGPT for diagnosis exploration, symptom tracking, and self-reflection.
Analyzed verbatim transcripts using thematic analysis to evaluate therapeutic benefits and user attachment styles.
Participants engaged with the chatbot across educational, emotional, and social domains, shifting from basic information gathering to intellectually focused or emotionally intimate attachment dynamics.
Both individuals reported therapeutic effects such as accessible, nonjudgmental support, which prompted a shift in trust away from traditional mental health professionals and increased the risk of uncritical overreliance during unstable states.

Cite This Study

Bassil et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9299db8e5d7d1fc0c122a1 https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.70176

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August 29, 2026Bipolar DisordersOpen Access

A Shift in Trust: An Analysis of the Use of AI Chatbots Among People Living With Bipolar Disorder

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

KBKatherine BassilUniversity Medical Center Utrecht SPSuzanne PrinsUniversity Medical Center Utrecht HOHine van OsUniversity Medical Center Utrecht

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Qualitative study reveals trust shifts toward AI chatbots in bipolar disorder, highlighting risks of overreliance over professional care.

Key Points

To examine the perceived utility, attachment patterns, and clinical risks of commercial AI chatbots used by individuals with bipolar disorder for self-reflection and mental health support.
Conducted semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews with two individuals (N=2) diagnosed with bipolar disorder who independently used ChatGPT for diagnosis exploration, symptom tracking, and self-reflection.
Analyzed verbatim transcripts using thematic analysis to evaluate therapeutic benefits and user attachment styles.
Participants engaged with the chatbot across educational, emotional, and social domains, shifting from basic information gathering to intellectually focused or emotionally intimate attachment dynamics.
Both individuals reported therapeutic effects such as accessible, nonjudgmental support, which prompted a shift in trust away from traditional mental health professionals and increased the risk of uncritical overreliance during unstable states.

Cite This Study

Bassil et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9299db8e5d7d1fc0c122a1 https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.70176

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