Medical Gaslighting: A Pattern of Healthcare Professionals’ Communication Inducing Emotional Disorder in Patients Accessing Treatment in Hospitals
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction Gaslighting is a dark psychological strategy that has adverse effect on the gaslightee. Unfortunately, medical gaslighting, a subtype of gaslighting is recognizably reported to be in the healthcare system. This study unravel and draws attention to the undetectable phenomenon of medical gaslighting found used among medical healthcare professionals in their interaction and communication with patients accessing treatment. Aim The study described the observed pattern of clinician’s communication with patients that characteristically represents medical gaslighting of patients presenting with their perceived persistent symptoms of ill-health in the hospital. Method The study used a case study observational research method. It is a naturalistic method of data collection on incidents of medical gaslighting in Federal Medical Centre Makurdi. The information gathered was on clinicians’ pattern of communication and patients’ narratives of their experience with doctors and nurses. Results The findings showed that medical gaslighting is used by healthcare professionals in the healthcare settings. Female patients are more vulnerable to medical gaslighting. Patients who are medically gaslighted are found to experience emotional disorders such as anxiety, and depression leading to their loss of trust and confidence in the healthcare service providers. Conclusion Medical gaslighting has long been happening in the Nigerian hospitals and many doctors and nurses are culprits of it during service delivery to patients. This in some casesleaves gaslighted patients, confused, worried, angry, and traumatized and to some extent they began to suffer some kinds of emotional disorders.
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4416723223