TORONTO — The advent of AI and a lack of access to primary care are feeding a rising trend in people trying to diagnose and treat themselves online, doctors say.
In an online media briefing hosted by the Ontario Medical Association on Wednesday, an endocrinologist, a cancer specialist and a psychiatrist all noted misinformation they frequently see online in their respective fields.
The risks of DIY diagnosis include trying remedies posted on social media that are unsafe, delaying seeking legitimate medical treatment and being financially exploited by paying for things that don't work, they said.
"I foresee it continuing to happen more and more, especially with AI technology getting more and more available and more and more sophisticated," said Dr. Valerie Primeau, a psychiatrist in North Bay, Ont.
"I have patients now that talk to ChatGPT to get advice."
Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, a clinical immunologist and president of the OMA, said the fact that so many people don't have a family doctor leaves a void in places where patients can get trustworthy health information — so many turn to online and AI sources.
"One of the places where you have a lot of trust because you've had a long relationship is your family doctor. And that's something that you can feel comfortable to bounce some of these ideas by," Abdurrahman said.
"When you don't have that, you're often feeling like you're going to all these other sources and you're not able to necessarily check the credibility for these resources."
Primeau said difficulty in accessing mental health care is another factor that drives people online and into potentially risky situations.
"The first concern obviously is misdiagnosis," she said.
"When studies have looked at videos on social media, a lot of them are overly generalized, meaning they don't necessarily target a particular disorder, even though they say they do. They may portray inaccurately certain illnesses or provide misleading information."
That in turn can lead to dangerous attempts to self-treat, Primeau said.
"Some patients, for example, have reported to me trying a medication from a friend, a family member, because they believe they suffered from the same illness, and it's led to side effects."
Primeau said one of the most common trends she's seen is online tests that claim they can diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
"If I ask everybody online today, 'have you ever been distracted or had trouble with organization or answering all your emails?' I think most people are going to say yes," she said.
"There is a rising trend to self-diagnose with it because we recognize ourselves in the videos that are played about ADHD because in general, society is struggling with inattention."
True ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, Primeau said, and can be traced back to childhood.
Some mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, are more likely to be correctly self-diagnosed by taking online tests, but should still be confirmed by a professional, she said.
Other conditions are especially prone to being diagnosed incorrectly, including bipolar disorder, Primeau said.
But going online to do mental health research is "not all negative,' she said, noting that watching videos or listening to people talking about their illness and identifying with them can prompt patients to seek care for themselves.
Social media groups can also offer peer support, she said.
Primeau encourages patients to share what they find online with their health-care provider.
"Patients want to feel that they have a say in the decisions that you make with them," she said.
"When they come (to) me with already some opinion about what they might be suffering from or their treatment, first of all, I take the information."
If the patient's research doesn't align with her professional diagnosis, Primeau has an open discussion with them and shows them evidence about why she came to that conclusion.
If people don't have a family doctor, Abdurrahman of the OMA said other ways to access credible health knowledge include going to a walk-in clinic or checking the websites of established medical institutions and associations — but emphasized the need to solve the primary care shortage as a better solution.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press
