Abreaction (also known as Abreactions): A process in psychotherapy in which the patient is desensitized to emotionally painful, often forgotten (repressed) memories by recalling and reacting to them in the safety of the treatment setting.

NIH MeSH · D000035Psychiatry and Psychology

Abreaction

Also known asAbreactions

Definition

A process in psychotherapy in which the patient is desensitized to emotionally painful, often forgotten (repressed) memories by recalling and reacting to them in the safety of the treatment setting.

MeSH classification

  • F04.754.720.107

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Related concepts

Association

A functional relationship between psychological phenomena of such nature that the presence of one tends to evoke the other; also, the proces…

Catharsis

The release of ideas, thoughts, and repressed material from the unconscious, accompanied by an emotional response and relief. (From Dorland,…

Countertransference

Conscious or unconscious emotional reaction of the therapist to the patient which may interfere with treatment. (APA, Thesaurus of Psycholog…

Common questions about Abreaction

What does Abreaction mean in medicine?
A process in psychotherapy in which the patient is desensitized to emotionally painful, often forgotten (repressed) memories by recalling and reacting to them in the safety of the treatment setting. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Abreaction known by any other names?
Yes. Abreaction is also referred to as Abreactions in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Abreaction sit in the medical classification?
Abreaction falls under the broader medical category "Psychiatry and Psychology" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: F04.754.720.107). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Abreaction?
For a plain-language explanation of Abreaction - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Abreaction" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000035) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗