Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism in the Field of Psychiatry

Abstract

Conceptualizing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in medicine requires a complex understanding of both the concepts and the history involved. The subject becomes more complicated in the field of psychiatry given the additional layers of patient-psychiatric interactions-e.g., transference and countertransference reactions. The authors seek to provide a background on the concept of anti-Zionism as a form of anti-Semitism and provide de-identified, composite cases to illustrate relevant points. These include clinicians’ projection of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism onto patients, patients’ projection of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism onto their clinicians, and the effects of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism toward practicing Jewish or Israeli-affiliated clinicians.