The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President

Amazon ^ | October 3, 2017 | Bandy X. Lee

[tired&retired]

New Book Release Date October 3, 2017

The consensus view of two dozen psychiatrists and psychologists that Trump is dangerously mentally ill and that he presents a clear and present danger to the nation and our own mental health.

Since the start of Donald Trump’s presidential run, one question has quietly but urgently permeated the observations of concerned citizens: What is wrong with him? Constrained by the American Psychiatric Association’s “Goldwater rule,” which inhibits mental health professionals from diagnosing public figures they have not personally examined, many of those qualified to answer this question have shied away from discussing the issue at all. The public has thus been left to wonder whether he is mad, bad, or both.

In THE DANGEROUS CASE OF DONALD TRUMP, twenty-seven psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health experts argue that, in Mr. Trump’s case, their moral and civic “duty to warn” America supersedes professional neutrality. They then explore Trump’s symptoms and potentially relevant diagnoses to find a complex, if also dangerously mad, man.

Philip Zimbardo and Rosemary Sword, for instance, explain Trump’s impulsivity in terms of “unbridled and extreme present hedonism.” Craig Malkin writes on pathological narcissism and politics as a lethal mix. Gail Sheehy, on a lack of trust that exceeds paranoia. Lance Dodes, on sociopathy. Robert Jay Lifton, on the “malignant normality” that can set in everyday life if psychiatrists do not speak up.

[x]

A psychologist only works with the mind and usually does not understand the physical body. It is illegal for psychologists to make a diagnosis as to to so would be practicing medicine without a license.

This means that psychologists don’t even consider biological causes of depression or other illnesses. B12 deficiency, copper toxicity and electrolyte imbalances are all biological causes of depression outside their professional realm.

True. But a lot of MDs, psychiatrists included, are really horrible at dealing with people.

By the way, my wife clearly stated that the Goldwater Rule has not changed and these people are in violation.

My guess was that these people were academics, like Zimbardo and Lifton, and not practitioners, but it looks like many of them also practice as psychotherapists as well as holding university positions.

[chaosagent]

If this was really a valid diagnosis, wouldn’t they all pretty much have the same diagnosis, not a couple of dozen different ones.

How about a couple of dozen medical doctors with a patient. One says he’s got a broken leg, another says a burst appendix, another says a heart attack.

[Drew68]

Most people don’t understand the difference.

Thanks for explaining that. I honestly didn't know.

[hal ogen]

What unprofessional unethical lunatics . They should all be sued for malpractice . What haters...and losers.

[Gene Eric]

>> They should all be sued for malpractice

I’d start with fraud.

[cynwoody]

Interesting.

When you measure accurately (per population), Vermont comes out on top as the most shrink-heavy state.

This is not surprising, given Bernie.

And Dr. Dean, of Scream fame.