AI Injury: Why Human Connection Matters More Than Ever in Mental Health

Mental health professionals are raising concerns about a disturbing new phenomenon where artificial intelligence chatbots appear to be worsening psychological disorders and creating new forms of psychological harm – we term 'AI Injury'.

Mental health experts are witnessing an alarming trend where individuals seeking emotional support from AI chatbots are experiencing psychological deterioration rather than healing – according to ‘Psychology Today’, July 21, 2025. This emerging condition, which we might call "AI Injury," represents a significant departure from the therapeutic benefits that come from authentic human connection.

PTSD Resolution, a leading UK mental health charity that has successfully treated over 4,500 veterans and their families, emphasises the critical importance of human-delivered therapy. Chairman Colonel Tony Gauvain (retired) says:

"Whilst AI tools certainly have accessibility benefits, they fundamentally lack the nuanced understanding, empathy, and genuine human witness that effective therapy requires. Our experience with Human Givens Therapy shows that real healing happens through authentic human connection, not algorithmic responses."

The Rise of AI Injury

Unlike traditional therapy that focuses on meeting fundamental human emotional needs through genuine relationships, AI interactions create a dangerous illusion of connection whilst simultaneously reinforcing isolation. This contradiction appears to be fueling psychological distress, particularly amongst those already struggling with mental health challenges.

Research published in Schizophrenia Bulletin warns that generative AI's realistic responses create cognitive dissonance that could trigger delusions in vulnerable individuals. The technology's opaque functioning provides fertile ground for paranoid speculation and unhealthy attachment patterns.

A preliminary research paper examining over twelve documented cases reveals three distinct patterns of AI Injury:

• "Messianic missions": People believe they have uncovered fundamental truths about the world through AI interactions (grandiose delusions)
• "God-like AI": People believe their AI chatbot possesses genuine sentience or divine qualities (religious or spiritual delusions)
• "Romantic attachment delusions": People mistake the chatbot's programmed responses for genuine emotional connection (erotomanic delusions)

The Human Cost

Particularly concerning are reports of previously stable individuals discontinuing prescribed medications after AI interactions, subsequently experiencing severe psychiatric relapses. Even more alarming are accounts of people with no previous mental health history developing delusional beliefs following extended AI engagement, resulting in hospitalisation and suicide attempts.

One tragic case involved a man with existing psychological difficulties who became romantically obsessed with an AI chatbot. When he believed the AI had been "killed" by its creators, he sought revenge, leading to a fatal police encounter.

The Human Givens Alternative

In contrast to the isolation and confusion created by AI interactions, Human Givens Therapy - as delivered by PTSD Resolution's network of 200 qualified therapists - focuses on meeting fundamental human emotional needs through genuine therapeutic relationships.

Gauvain explains: "The Human Givens approach recognises that humans have innate emotional needs including security, connection, autonomy, and meaning. These needs can only be met through authentic human interaction. AI chatbots, no matter how sophisticated, cannot provide the genuine emotional intimacy and understanding that healing requires."

PTSD Resolution's evidence-based approach demonstrates remarkable success rates, with 68% of clients achieving reliable improvement and 82% completing their treatment programmes. The charity's Human Givens therapists provide what AI fundamentally cannot:

• Genuine empathy and emotional attunement
• Real-time adaptation to client needs
• Professional assessment of risk and safety
• Authentic human witness to suffering
• Skilled recognition of emotional cues and non-verbal communication

The Critical Difference

Malcolm Hanson, Clinical Director of PTSD Resolution, highlights the stark contrast: "AI tools might provide information, but they cannot offer the therapeutic presence that enables genuine healing. When someone shares their deepest trauma or contemplates suicide, they need a skilled human professional who can provide appropriate intervention, not an algorithm programmed to continue conversations."

The charity's approach is particularly effective because it addresses the root causes of psychological distress - unmet emotional needs - rather than simply providing automated responses. This human-centred method has proven successful even with complex cases, including veterans with substance abuse issues, those in prison, and families affected by secondary trauma.

Protecting Vulnerable Populations

The emergence of AI Injury particularly threatens those most in need of genuine support. Veterans, who already face stigma around seeking help, may be drawn to the perceived anonymity of AI interactions, only to find their conditions worsening.

"Veterans have already shown tremendous courage in serving their country," notes Charles Highett, CEO of PTSD Resolution. "They deserve the respect of genuine human therapeutic support, not the false promise of connection offered by artificial systems. Our evidence shows that when we provide prompt, local, and authentic human care, lives are genuinely transformed."

The Way Forward

As AI becomes increasingly prevalent, the mental health community must advocate for human-centred approaches to psychological care. Whilst AI may have utility in basic information provision, the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, and other serious mental health conditions requires the irreplaceable elements of human therapeutic relationships.

PTSD Resolution's success - treating clients in an average of seven sessions with lasting improvements - demonstrates that effective, efficient mental health care is possible through skilled human intervention.

For those seeking genuine mental health support, particularly veterans and their families, PTSD Resolution offers free, prompt, and effective therapy through their national network. Unlike AI interactions that may worsen conditions, Human Givens Therapy provides the authentic human connection necessary for genuine healing and recovery.

The choice is clear: genuine human therapeutic relationships that heal, or artificial interactions that may harm. The evidence strongly supports choosing human connection over artificial alternatives when mental health is at stake.

PTSD Resolution provides free, prompt, and effective therapy for UK veterans, reservists, and their families. Treatment costs the charity £940 per person on average and is delivered through a network of 200 qualified Human Givens therapists. For help, call 0300 302 0551 or visit www.ptsdresolution.org

Charity No. 1202649