Brainwashing (also known as Forced Indoctrination, Forced Indoctrinations): A broad class of intense and often coercive tactics intended to produce profound changes in attitudes, beliefs, and emotions. Targets of such tactics have typically been prisoners of war and members of religious cults. (From https://dictionary.

NIH MeSH · D000096965Information Science

Brainwashing

Also known asForced Indoctrination · Forced Indoctrinations · Indoctrination, Forced · Indoctrinations, Forced · Mind Control · Control, Mind · Mind Controls

Definition

A broad class of intense and often coercive tactics intended to produce profound changes in attitudes, beliefs, and emotions. Targets of such tactics have typically been prisoners of war and members of religious cults. (From https://dictionary.apa.org/brainwashing)

MeSH classification

  • L01.143.762.500

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Common questions about Brainwashing

What does Brainwashing mean in medicine?
A broad class of intense and often coercive tactics intended to produce profound changes in attitudes, beliefs, and emotions. Targets of such tactics have typically been prisoners of war and members of religious cults. (From https://dictionary.apa.org/brainwashing) 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 Brainwashing known by any other names?
Yes. Brainwashing is also referred to as Forced Indoctrination, Forced Indoctrinations, Indoctrination, Forced, Indoctrinations, Forced 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 Brainwashing sit in the medical classification?
Brainwashing falls under the broader medical category "Information Science" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: L01.143.762.500). 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 Brainwashing?
For a plain-language explanation of Brainwashing - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 90+ languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Brainwashing" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000096965) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗