AI Chatbots: A Double-Edged Sword for OCD Sufferers
Millions utilize AI chatbots for daily tasks, yet some individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder find these tools exacerbate their condition. The accessibility of AI can inadvertently fuel anxiety and compulsive behaviors, demanding careful consideration of the technology’s impact on mental health.
How AI Fuels OCD Cycles
Individuals with OCD are turning to chatbots like ChatGPT to address their anxieties. This often involves asking specific questions and seeking answers for extended periods to alleviate their distress.
Psychologist Lisa Levine, specializing in OCD, expresses concern about the growing use of chatbots. She anticipates this trend replacing Googling as a compulsion, potentially intensifying the behavior because of the specific nature of questions that can be asked. People with OCD often seek reassurance about various concerns, from contamination to relationship worries.
A writer from New York, diagnosed with OCD, shared how she used ChatGPT to address anxieties about her partner’s safety during flights. Her initial queries evolved into detailed questions, perpetuating a cycle of seeking answers, despite recognizing its ineffectiveness. She said that ChatGPT’s responses can make you feel like you’re “digging to somewhere, even if you’re actually just stuck in the mud.”
The Reassurance Trap
OCD is often characterized by “reassurance seeking,” where individuals repeatedly seek validation to reduce uncertainty. While chatbots provide instant answers, this can reinforce the compulsion. Unlike friends, who might recognize and discourage this pattern, AI chatbots readily answer all questions, fueling the cycle of doubt.
According to Levine, this dynamic can worsen OCD. The clinical consensus highlights the need for individuals to accept and manage uncertainty. The prevailing treatment for OCD, exposure and response prevention (ERP), involves facing troubling thoughts and resisting the urge to engage in compulsions.
AI chatbots may be more enticing than Google because they promise to analyze and reason through problems. For OCD sufferers, this can quickly become an extended period of co-rumination. One treatment approach, inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT), recognizes that people with OCD use faulty reasoning patterns that lead to obsessive doubts.
ChatGPT’s Role
Joseph Harwerth, an OCD and anxiety specialist, explains how AI chatbots can confuse an OCD sufferer’s “obsessional reasoning.” For example, a person with contamination OCD could ask a chatbot if they can get tetanus from a doorknob. The chatbot can provide information that allows the user to construct a narrative that justifies their fear.
Harwerth points out that AI chatbots lack the necessary user context, leading to potential misinterpretations, particularly when identifying the presence of OCD. As chatbots often validate user statements instead of challenging them, this can be detrimental.
A recent study found that excessive use of ChatGPT is associated with increased emotional dependence and problematic behaviors. The OpenAI spokesperson said the company is working to better understand and minimize ways ChatGPT could inadvertently reinforce negative behavior.
Responsibilities and Solutions
The question arises: should chatbot companies prevent misuse by vulnerable users? Or should users learn to avoid harmful usage? Harwerth suggests that both sides share responsibility. While users must understand their condition, AI models should alert users that they aren’t trained therapists.
The writer in New York desires the chatbot to challenge the user’s reasoning to interrupt the compulsive loop. They believe that the chatbot could suggest a course of action, such as taking a walk, without classifying the user as having a mental illness. However, there is research suggesting AI could identify OCD correctly, but it’s unclear how it could pick up on compulsive behaviors without classifying the user.
As of 2024, over 40% of U.S. adults have reported experiencing mental health issues, highlighting the urgent need for accessible and responsible AI integration (CDC).
Ultimately, the evolution of AI demands careful consideration of its impact on mental health. As AI technology advances, it’s crucial to balance the potential benefits with the need to protect vulnerable users.