abreaction n 1: (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions [syn: {catharsis}, {katharsis}, {abreaction}]
Abreaction \Ab`re*ac"tion\, n. [Pref. ab- + reaction, after G. Abreagirung.] (Psychotherapy) the purging of emotional tensions. See {Catharsis}, below. Syn: catharsis, katharsis [Webster 1913 Suppl. WordNet 1.5]