![\"Senior](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_261960164-8a9b.jpg\")
\n\t\tHe became convinced that his neighbour had poisoned him (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tHe became convinced that his neighbour had poisoned him (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A man gave himself a psychological condition after turning to ChatGPT<\/a> for medical advice.<\/p>\n The unnamed man, 60,\u00a0told doctors he was trying to eliminate table salt from his diet, having read about its negative effects<\/a>. <\/p>\n Chatting with the artificial intelligence<\/a> (AI) chatbot, he decided to eliminate salt, also known as sodium chloride, from his diet completely.<\/p>\n He conducted a \u2018personal experiment\u2019 by replacing it with sodium bromide, used in the early 20th century to make sedatives, which he had purchased online.<\/p>\n The man, who had no psychiatric history, was taken to the hospital after becoming convinced his neighbour had poisoned him. <\/p>\n A report of the man\u2019s case, detailed in the Annals of Internal Medicine<\/a>, said the patient developed bromism, caused by overexposure to bromide.<\/p>\n \t\t The study said: \u2018In the first 24 hours of admission, he expressed increasing paranoia and auditory and visual hallucinations, which, after attempting to escape, resulted in an involuntary psychiatric hold for grave disability.\u2019<\/p>\n He also suffered insomnia, fatigue, muscle coordination issues, and excessive thirst, his doctors noted.<\/p>\n Medics treated the man\u2019s condition and discharged him a few weeks later.<\/p>\n The article authors said it is unclear what advice the virtual assistant gave the man<\/a>, as they cannot access his chat log. <\/p>\n When they asked the app what salt should be replaced with, bromide was among the recommendations.<\/p>\n The bot did note that \u2018context matters\u2019, though did not provide a health warning \u2018as we presume a medical professional would do\u2019, the authors wrote.<\/p>\n \t\t When Metro <\/strong>did the same today, bromide is no longer included and instead includes an \u2018Important Safety Note: Avoid Toxic Alternatives\u2019.<\/p>\n The advice reads: \u2018A recent medical case made headlines: a man replaced salt with sodium bromide, based on advice from ChatGPT,<\/a> which led to bromism \u2013 a rare and dangerous condition (causing paranoia, psychosis, insomnia, skin issues). He required hospitalisation.<\/p>\n \u2018Bottom line: Never use unverified, off\u2011label substances like sodium bromide as salt substitutes. Always rely on safe, reputable options and seek medical guidance when in doubt.\u2019<\/p>\n Sodium chloride has been linked to negative health effects, such as raised blood pressure, but health experts stress it is part of a balanced diet<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to the UK Health Security Agency, bromide is used in water sanitisers for pools and spas. Low-level exposure is unlikely to cause adverse health effects.<\/p>\n People are increasingly using ChatGPT and other AI-powered chatbots for day-to-day advice, from writing emails to planning their monthly budgets<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t About one in six Americans has sought medical advice from ChatGPT, according to a recent\u00a0survey<\/a>. In the UK, one in five GPs use AI tools.<\/p>\n Studies<\/a> have shown that chatbots can offer incorrect health advice, sometimes citing medical reports that do not exist.<\/p>\n The report authors concluded: \u2018While it is a tool with much potential to provide a bridge between scientists and the nonacademic population, AI also carries the risk for promulgating decontextualised information.<\/p>\n \u2018It is highly unlikely that a medical expert would have mentioned sodium bromide when faced with a patient looking for a viable substitute for sodium chloride.\u2019<\/p>\n The tech start-up, which owns ChatGPT, OpenAI, notes in its service terms<\/a>: \u2018Our Services are not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any health condition.\u2019<\/p>\n The company\u2019s terms of use<\/a> state: \u2018You should not rely on Output from our Services as a sole source of truth or factual information, or as a substitute for professional advice.\u2019<\/p>\n Safety teams work to reduce risks, and the algorithm has been trained to encourage people to seek professional advice. <\/p>\n OpenAI unveiled a new, upgraded version of ChatGPT last week, which the company said is its \u2018best model yet for health-related questions\u2019.<\/p>\n But in a news release, the firm stressed: \u2018Importantly, ChatGPT does not replace a medical professional \u2013 think of it as a partner to help you understand results, ask the right questions in the time you have with providers, and weigh options as you make decisions.\u2019<\/p>\n OpenAI has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\tComments Arrow Arrow![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_261980864-2f3f.jpg\")
\n\t\tDoctors described the \u2018increasingly paranoid\u2019 man suffering from hallucinations (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2152811919-45a8.jpg\")
\n\t\tChatGPT\u2019s owners against using the app as a diagnostic tool (Picture: Smith Collection\/Gado\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"EMBARGOED](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_250772175-5f12.jpg\")
\n\t\tResearchers have found AI-powered bots may offer incorrect health advice (Picture: Jeff Moore\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
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