Cemre Nur GEDİKLİ, Yusuf Selman ÇELİK, Meryem KAŞAK
Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi - 2026;29(3):245-249
Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by a complex interplay between genetic vulnerability and environmental stressors. During adolescence, heightened neurobiological sensitivity renders individuals more susceptible to the disruptive effects of digital stimuli. This case report describes a 16-year-old male who experienced his first manic episode following intensive emotional engagement with an artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbot. The case illustrates how an asymmetric relationship with AI-occurring in the context of post-surgical social withdrawal-may be associated with manic delusions and clinical escalation through sleep deprivation, cognitive overstimulation, and the 'echo chamber' effect. Given the scarcity of empirical data on AI-induced psychopathology, this case provides a unique perspective on how generative AI models may be associated with the reinforcement of maladaptive beliefs as a psychosocial context in reward-sensitive adolescents. Clinical assessment in the digital age must evolve beyond monitoring screen time to qualitatively evaluating human-AI interactions, recognizing AI as a novel environmental factor warranting clinical attention in the management of adolescent bipolar disorder.
