Dan Proft interviewed psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, author of the forthcoming book Therapy Nation, to discuss the psychological impact of intense political polarization, particularly focusing on what Alpert terms “obsessive political preoccupation.”
Proft began the segment by criticizing Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) for delivering a message on political unity and civility at a conference, despite Proft characterizing Schiff’s own political conduct as incendiary and fraudulent. Proft called the disconnect between Schiff’s rhetoric and behavior “pathological lying” and “sociopathic.” He then turned the conversation to the psychological profile of those who become consumed by politics, suggesting that this “unbalanced person” who easily “swallows the hook” of “boogeyman politics” is more destructive to political discourse than the politicians themselves.
Alpert addressed the concept of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS), clarifying that while it is not a formal disorder in the DSM, he is seeing concerning symptoms in his patients that align with other recognized conditions. He prefers the term “obsessive political preoccupation,” noting that it applies to the intense, unhealthy fixation on a political figure.
Alpert explained the symptoms he observes in his practice:
- Intrusive thoughts, rage, and dread
- High anxiety
- Disturbed sleep
- Compulsive thinking
He stated that these symptoms mirror those seen in conditions like OCD, anxiety, and depression, making the preoccupation a significant concern for clinicians. Alpert emphasized that the figure (like Trump) often acts as a “trigger” for a larger mental imbalance or pre-existing condition, and this hyperfixation can easily transfer to other political targets, such as Vance.
Proft suggested that Trump is a particularly “provocative trigger” because his brash, aggressive style is different from the “mealy-mouthed” approach of many politicians. Alpert agreed, stating that he tries to counsel patients to “separate the policy from the personality.” He noted that people are often so consumed by the politician as a person that they are unable to acknowledge any potential positive outcomes or policies, even citing the example of the peace deal with Israel.
However, Proft pointed out that some voters have moved on their positions regarding Trump due to policy-specific issues, such as criminal justice reform or investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Alpert affirmed that while movement occurs, there is a cadre of people who are essentially unreachable, comparing their resistance to change to those who maintained dogmatic views on COVID-19 mask-wearing and vaccines.
Alpert views obsessive political preoccupation as a “culture-bound syndrome” that is reinforced by social media, partisan news, and even some therapists who create an echo chamber for their patients’ “false beliefs.” He stated that a responsible clinician should challenge a patient’s belief system, asking them how they derived their conclusions, rather than validating misinformation.
Alpert and Proft discussed that much of this obsession is performative, driven by a need for outside validation in social settings or on social media. Alpert’s strategy for reaching “reachable” patients is to gently challenge their beliefs and ask for evidence to support their claims.
Alpert confirmed that he has successfully moved people from obsessive preoccupation to a more civil, rational disagreement by helping them make politics less dominant in their lives, often by simply cutting off their consumption of certain news and social media sites.
Jonathan Alpert is the author of Therapy Nation, forthcoming in 2026. His article is titled “Is Trump Derangement Syndrome Real?”