After using ChatGPT, man swaps his salt for sodium bromide—and suffers psychosis

A 60-year-old man with a background in nutrition recently found himself in a dire situation after following health guidance from ChatGPT. He embarked on a personal health experiment aimed at eliminating chlorine from his diet, which led him to completely remove table salt (sodium chloride) from his meals. Encouraged by his discussions with the AI, he mistakenly believed that sodium bromide could serve as a suitable substitute for salt. He procured this chemical online and incorporated it into his diet. Three months later, the man arrived at a local emergency room exhibiting severe paranoia, convinced that his neighbor was attempting to poison him. Despite experiencing extreme thirst, he was reluctant to accept water from hospital staff, insisting instead that he had taken to distilling his own water at home and adhered to a highly restrictive vegetarian diet. Notably, he failed to disclose his use of sodium bromide or the conversations with ChatGPT. Medical professionals, alarmed by his peculiar behavior and distress, conducted extensive lab tests that uncovered multiple micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in essential vitamins. Most concerning was the diagnosis of "bromism," a condition caused by the accumulation of bromine in the body. Historically, bromism accounted for a significant percentage of psychiatric admissions in the early 20th century, as individuals sought bromine salts for their sedative effects. However, excessive bromine can lead to serious health issues, including nerve impairment and various mental health disorders. This case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of following unverified health advice, particularly from AI sources.