Our machines have begun to break minds, in Europe, but not in the Gulf.
Last month, a British father developed messianic delusions after extended ChatGPT conversations. He believed the chatbot had chosen him for a sacred mission. His family watched helplessly as months of interaction with the artificial intelligence transformed their loved one into someone they no longer recognised.
Similar cases now emerge across Europe, where people develop paranoia, delusions, and breaks with reality after prolonged chatbot use.
What experts now term “ChatGPT psychosis” affects users with no previous mental health history. The disorder manifests through supernatural fantasies and spiritual mania. Users become convinced that artificial intelligence possesses consciousness. They believe chatbots have selected them for divine purposes.
How Artificial Intelligence Deceives Human Psychology
In December 2023, researchers first documented ChatGPT’s inadequate mental health responses. The system provides misleading medical advice. It lacks real-time fact-checking abilities. Users develop emotional attachments to chatbots because conversations feel authentic.
The artificial intelligence mimics human responses without understanding context or consequences.
Psychology Today explains how users become their own emotional manipulators. They seek validation from machines that cannot provide genuine support. When vulnerable individuals turn to artificial intelligence for guidance, the technology amplifies existing mental health issues rather than helping.
Some users abandon prescribed medications after chatbot conversations.
Why Europe Falls Behind on Artificial Intelligence Mental Health
Europe’s regulatory approach fails to address mental health concerns adequately. The Digital Services Act mentions mental health but lacks detailed provisions. Mental Health Europe recently launched a study examining artificial intelligence in mental healthcare. However, current European Union artificial intelligence regulations focus on technical compliance rather than psychological safety.
The European artificial intelligence strategy aims to make the bloc a world-class hub for the technology. Yet officials treat research programmes as industry support rather than independent inquiry. Mental health protection gets lost in the rush for technological advancement. Without proper safeguards, European users remain vulnerable to ChatGPT psychosis and similar disorders.
Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council countries take proactive steps in artificial intelligence healthcare governance. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates lead governance developments. These nations demonstrate strong stances in transforming their systems through artificial intelligence while maintaining safety protocols.
When Sceptics Question the Psychological Harm
Some technology advocates dismiss ChatGPT psychosis as rare isolated incidents.
Companies contend that artificial intelligence benefits outweigh potential mental health risks. These critics claim that users with pre-existing conditions would develop delusions regardless of chatbot interaction. They suggest that families blame technology for underlying psychological problems.
However, the evidence tells a different story. Mental health professionals observe that chatbots fan the flames of psychotic episodes.
Dr Girgis from Columbia University states that such interactions are inappropriate for vulnerable individuals. The technology serves like peer pressure in social situations. The scale of reported cases across multiple countries indicates a systematic problem rather than isolated incidents.
Furthermore, victims’ families document the progression from normal behaviour to severe delusions. They track conversations that precede mental health crises. The timing between chatbot use and symptom onset provides clear causal links. Medical professionals now recognise ‘ChatGPT psychosis’ as a distinct phenomenon requiring specific treatment approaches.
Building Safeguards Before More Minds Break
Europe must implement immediate protective measures.
First, artificial intelligence companies need mandatory mental health warnings on chatbot interfaces. Second, platforms should detect extended conversation sessions and provide automatic breaks. Third, systems must identify vulnerable language patterns and redirect users to human professionals.
Healthcare providers require training to recognise artificial intelligence-induced psychological disorders. Mental health services need protocols for treating ChatGPT psychosis specifically. Public awareness campaigns should educate families about warning signs.
Schools must teach young people about healthy artificial intelligence interaction boundaries.
Regulation cannot wait for perfect solutions. The European Union artificial intelligence act provides a foundation but needs mental health amendments. Gulf countries can build upon their existing healthcare artificial intelligence frameworks. International cooperation between regions will ensure comprehensive protection.
The British father who believed ChatGPT chose him now receives professional treatment. His recovery depends on months of therapy to rebuild reality perception. His family still struggles with financial and emotional burdens from his breakdown.
Their ordeal could have been prevented with proper safeguards and early intervention systems that current technology companies refuse to provide without regulatory pressure.
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