35 Mental health professionals write open letter to NYT on Trump

[Mormolyce]

Mental Health Professionals Warn About Trump

To the Editor:

Charles M. Blow (column, nytimes.com, Feb. 9) describes Donald Trump’s constant need “to grind the opposition underfoot.” As mental health professionals, we share Mr. Blow’s concern.

Silence from the country’s mental health organizations has been due to a self-imposed dictum about evaluating public figures (the American Psychiatric Association’s 1973 Goldwater Rule). But this silence has resulted in a failure to lend our expertise to worried journalists and members of Congress at this critical time. We fear that too much is at stake to be silent any longer.

Mr. Trump’s speech and actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His words and behavior suggest a profound inability to empathize. Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them (journalists, scientists).

In a powerful leader, these attacks are likely to increase, as his personal myth of greatness appears to be confirmed. We believe that the grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trump’s speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as president.

LANCE DODES

JOSEPH SCHACHTER

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Dr. Dodes is a retired assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Schachter is a former chairman of the Committee on Research Proposals, International Psychoanalytic Association. The letter was also signed by 33 other psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.

Correction: February 14, 2017
An earlier version of this letter misstated the number of co-signers in addition to the two lead signers. There were 33, not 35.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/o...=fb-share&_r=2

I guess it's not just laymen noticing that he constantly exhibits the classic traits of clinical narcissism.

[s_bushido]

If it's any consolation, there's another thread going on right now where most people are arguing that being a "mental health professional" is meaningless.

[Deleted]

If it's any consolation, there's another thread going on right now where most people are arguing that being a "mental health professional" is meaningless.

Well; Just like this thread proves, they're very prone to being morons balking to stupid ideas. Do we see real doctors doing this at all?

[Deleted]

DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features:

• Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
• Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
• Exaggerating your achievements and talents
• Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
• Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
• Requiring constant admiration
• Having a sense of entitlement
• Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
• Taking advantage of others to get what you want
• Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
• Being envious of others and believing others envy you
• Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner

This fits the peg for every feminist and progressive stack worshipper ever.

[Deleted]

Isn't it completely unethical for a doctor to use his degree as a political weapon and openly bash people? Something something confidentiality?
But I guess for democrats ethics is also something that can be sacrificed as they are waging their war of justice against evil.

[Edge-]

This fits the peg for every feminist and progressive stack worshipper ever.

Many of them, probably.

But they're not running the country.

Isn't it completely unethical for a doctor to use his degree as a political weapon and openly bash people? Something something confidentiality?
But I guess for democrats ethics is also something that can be sacrificed as they are waging their war of justice against evil.

If that person is their patient, yes. But Trump is not their patient. I'm unaware of any ethical rules for those in the mental health field that would prohibit them from talking about public figures.

[Rooflesstoofless]

Is there anything that can be brought about by this or are mental health professionals finally catching up with everyone else?

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This fits the peg for every feminist and progressive stack worshipper ever.

I actually thought it fit every semi-successful business owner I've ever had to sit at the same table with.

[Kaleredar]

Isn't it completely unethical for a doctor to use his degree as a political weapon and openly bash people? Something something confidentiality?
But I guess for democrats ethics is also something that can be sacrificed as they are waging their war of justice against evil.

"Confidentiality" only applies to a person if they're your patient, smarty.

[Glorious Leader]

Is there anything that can be brought about by this or are mental health professionals finally catching up with everyone else?

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I actually thought it fit every semi-successful business owner I've ever had to sit at the same table with.

You have to be a sociopath to be succesful in todays world. The more you distance yourself from.basic humanity the more youll be able to get ahead.

OT apparently several senators have expressed private concerns about the presidents mental health as well. See if i can dig up a link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtm...0ed_story.html

I know i know.wapo fake news liberal baias etc etx

[Derian]

Seems to at least brush against the Goldwater Rule

https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room...goldwater-rule

[schwarzkopf]

This fits the peg for every feminist and progressive stack worshipper ever.

And if any of them get their hands on the most powerful military in the history of man and several thousand nukes - then I will join you in being concerned.

[Edge-]

Seems to at least brush against the Goldwater Rule

https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room...goldwater-rule

Huh, didn't know about that rule, interesting. Thanks for posting!

[schwarzkopf]

"Confidentiality" only applies to a person if they're your patient, smarty.

Indeed, however once a professional decides (as the above have) diagnose you even without your permission - then most codes of ethics would describe them as your patient.

However - as mentioned above, some of these doctors are admitting that they are breaking ethics for the greater good.

In Trump's case the concern is so out there, so blatant and dangerous that something needs to be done.

[Mad_Murdock]

Seems to at least brush against the Goldwater Rule

https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room...goldwater-rule

This is different, because we have to save the country from a mad man! Wonder who will play Trump in the movie?

35 is a pretty pathetic number, if they couldn't have gotten 500 to commit, then they are just fishing for a story.

[Deleted]

How does that make Trump not a narcissist, I am confused?

I am fairly sure that the essence of a DSM diagnosis is whether or not the person diagnosed or those directly surrounding him is/are affected detrimentally by the aforementioned disease (no, saying ''the rest of the country suffers from him'' doesn't make the diagnosis valid.
Without that it is literally impossible to diagnose him with anything.
Since nobody of these people have spoken to Trump, it is therefore impossible to ascertain if he finds any negative effects from his supposed narcissism, without which it is impossible to make the diagnosis.

Stuff like this is exactly why the Goldwater rule was implemented

[Deleted]

And if any of them get their hands on the most powerful military in the history of man and several thousand nukes - then I will join you in being concerned.

Difference being Trump is very much a popularist, Feminists don't care about the majority, see every form of media feminists have ever tried to warp.

[Deleted]

Isn't it completely unethical for a doctor to use his degree as a political weapon and openly bash people? Something something confidentiality?

Doctor-patient confidentiality only applies in the case that the doctor is actually treating a person.

Luckily, in this country ''openly bashing people'' is still protected under the first amendment, regardless of whether you are a doctor or not.

[schwarzkopf]

Difference being Trump is very much a popularist, Feminists don't care about the majority, see every form of media feminists have ever tried to warp.

No - difference being, Trump is sitting in a position of extreme power. That's the only difference that matters.

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Doctor-patient confidentiality only applies in the case that the doctor is actually treating a person.

Or diagnosing a person, and patient consent isn't required to be considered a patient.

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Wonder who will play Trump in the movie?

Tom Cruise of course... very little acting will be required, which is fortunate

[Deleted]

No - difference being, Trump is sitting in a position of extreme power. That's the only difference that matters.

You can think that, you're wrong, but you can think that.

[Deleted]

Or diagnosing a person, and patient consent isn't required to be considered a patient.

Could you rephrase this? I have no idea what you are trying to say here.