Problematic Reliance on Generative AI in an Anxious Young Adult: Case Report
Psychiatric case report of a woman in her mid-20s with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, previously high-functioning, who developed functional dependence on ChatGPT for composing emails, interpreting social interactions, predicting outcomes and making decisions, and became increasingly uncomfortable performing those tasks independently. The author interprets the pattern as reassurance-seeking reinforced by immediate relief, observed across professional and personal contexts.
Publisher
JMIR Formative Research (JMIR Publications); Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University
Published
16 Sept 2026
Added
3 weeks ago
Key Findings
- Reliance spanned professional and personal contexts and reflected a generalised strategy for managing uncertainty and self-doubt rather than task-specific assistance
- Psychiatric consultation found no personality disorder and no clinically significant perfectionistic traits, suggesting the pattern can arise without those predispositions
- The report characterises the behaviour as cognitive offloading and reassurance-seeking that may compound anxiety
- Recommends that clinicians ask anxious young adults about their use of generative AI
Methodology Notes
Single case; written consent obtained; identifying details altered. JMIR Formative Research 2026;10:e98297, published 16 September 2026; PubMed indexes it as a case report. Verified from the PubMed record (42748377) and the article rendered through a reader proxy.
Topics
Authors
Armstrong, Sarah
Tags
Cite This
APA
Armstrong, Sarah. (2026). Problematic Reliance on Generative AI in an Anxious Young Adult: Case Report. JMIR Formative Research (JMIR Publications); Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University. https://formative.jmir.org/2026/1/e98297
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