Martha Mitchell Effect
The process by which a mental health professional labels the patient's accurate perception of real events as delusional, and therefore misdiagnoses accordingly.
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Origin
Named for Martha Mitchell (1918-1976), wife of Nixon's Attorney General John Mitchell. During the Watergate scandal, she alleged White House involvement in illegal activities; the administration dismissed her as mentally unstable and had her forcibly sedated and isolated. The unfolding scandal vindicated her claims. Psychologist Brendan Maher formalized the term in 1988.
Updated February 22, 2026