Psychotherapists are reporting an increase in patients experiencing significant distress related to former President Donald Trump, with some individuals finding it difficult to function in daily life. According to Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist practicing in New York and Washington who also writes for the Wall Street Journal, about three-quarters of his patients now display what he describes as “obsessive political preoccupation.”
Alpert discussed this trend during an interview on “The Faulkner Focus,” noting that many of his patients exhibit symptoms similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder. He explained that these individuals “suffer persistent intrusive thoughts about Trump,” “compulsively monitor news about him,” “endure chronic hyperarousal and vigilance,” and “lose the ability to function normally in daily life.” In his op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Alpert characterized the phenomenon as a form of political obsession.
While the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome” is not used clinically, Alpert’s observations suggest that strong emotional reactions toward Trump have become a mental health concern for some people. He described how these reactions can manifest as anxiety and impaired daily functioning.
Some commentators have attributed this trend to ongoing media coverage and public discourse focused on Trump, which they argue has contributed to heightened stress among certain segments of the population.
