Psychological abuse

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Psychological abuse, also known as emotional abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Such abuse is often associated with situations of power imbalance, such as abusive relationships, bullying, and abuse in the workplace.

Definition[edit | edit source]

Psychological abuse involves the regular and deliberate use of a range of words and non-physical actions used with the purpose to manipulate, hurt, weaken or frighten a person mentally and emotionally; and/or distort, confuse or influence a person's thoughts and actions within their everyday lives, personal or social interactions.

Forms of Psychological Abuse[edit | edit source]

Psychological abuse can take the form of physical aggression, insults, humiliation, destruction of property, isolation, or threats of violence.

Effects[edit | edit source]

The effects of psychological abuse can be devastating. They include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation and attempts, substance abuse, and self-harm.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for psychological abuse often involves psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Medications may also be used to help manage symptoms.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Psychological abuse Resources
Wikipedia
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD