A psychic vampire, in mythology, is a being said to have the ability to feed off the "life force" of other living creatures. The concept appears in the mythologies of many cultures, just as do blood-drinking vampires. Regions where belief in psychic vampires is common include Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and rural South America. Some North American Indian cultures, such as the Hopi, also share this belief.

The concept of both 'vampire' and homologously 'psychic vampire' can be interpreted to represent the issue of social parasitism applied to spiritually or emotionally weak persons; those who appear to "drain" strength from others. This concept was popularized by Anton LaVey and his Church of Satan, but most probably not invented by them.

Anton LaVey of the Church of Satan claimed to have introduced the concept of the 'psychic vampire' into English, but this claim is at least in part spurious. Dion Fortune, who died bevore Anton LaVey reached adulthood, also wrote about psychic vampirism. In her book psychic self-defense she discusses both what she perceives to be true psychic vampirism and mental conditions that produce similar symptoms. For the latter she names folie a deux and similar phenomena.

A related form of psychic vampirism is known as sexual vampirism , where one is said to be able to feed off sexual energy. Vampires who feed using this method are known as Succubi or Incubi, named after the demons said to enter the dreams of men or women and tempt them into having intercourse.