Psychological Crisis? Therapist Claims 75% of His Patients Suffer from “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Presenting as OCD and Anxiety
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, a Manhattan-based psychotherapist has sparked a major debate by claiming that “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS)—a term typically used politically—is a legitimate psychological issue he sees daily in his practice.
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist who recently discussed his observations on Fox News’s “The Faulkner Focus,” stated that the symptoms he sees in patients align with severe clinical distress, labeling it the “defining pathology of our time.”
Symptoms: Obsession, Sleeplessness, and Trauma
Alpert claims that approximately three-quarters of his current patients exhibit symptoms related to their intense negative feelings toward President Donald Trump.
What began as seemingly ideological opposition, Alpert explained, has evolved into a clinical presentation characterized by obsessive and compulsive behaviors. He describes the symptoms he’s observed:
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Obsession and Fixation: Patients are hyper-fixated on Trump, with his name or image serving as a constant trigger for intense distress.
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Impaired Functioning: Symptoms align with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Patients report persistent intrusive thoughts and emotional dysregulation.
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Physical Distress: Reports include sleepless nights, physical agitation, and a compulsive need for news checking.
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Trauma: Alpert noted one patient who reported they “couldn’t enjoy a vacation” because seeing Trump in the news felt “triggered.”
In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, Alpert formally referred to this condition as “obsessive political preoccupation”—an obsessive-compulsive spectrum presentation where a political figure becomes the singular focus of intrusive thoughts and heightened arousal.
From Outrage to Clinical Fixation
Alpert stated that he initially viewed the strong reactions to Trump as simple ideological disagreement. However, he realized that the intensity of the symptoms took on a “more clinical shape” over time.
He stresses that being so fixated on any single figure to the point where it distorts perception and consumes attention is inherently unhealthy.
“If you’re that hyper-focused on Trump, that’s a real issue,” Alpert told Fox News, adding that many patients’ hatred for Trump comes up within minutes of starting a session.
While “Trump Derangement Syndrome” remains a non-clinical term often used to politically disparage critics, Alpert’s professional account suggests that the phenomenon of political obsession and anxiety is having a measurable, disruptive impact on the mental health of many Americans.
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