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Donald Trump’s ADHD Shapes The Coronavirus Crisis
Pundits have lambasted Donald Trump for his lying, nattered about his narcissism, and decried his sociopathy, while simultaneously describing his behavior as chaotic, inept, inconsistent, impulsive, unconventional, inattentive, ignorant, and devoid of planning or follow through. While making assertions about other mental health problems, they have been simultaneously cataloging symptoms of Mr. Trump’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We neglect his ADHD at our own peril, as highlighted by his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We need to pay attention to Mr. Trump’s ADHD, because ADHD shapes his behavior in ways pervasive, pertinent, pernicious, and preventable. ADHD causes chaos not just for those with the condition, but also for those they interact with. ADHD can destroy relationships, derail careers, and even kill people. We all need to become better at recognizing ADHD because this disorder of disorder harms millions of Americans, yet once identified we can usually treat it quickly and substantively.
We make diagnoses in psychiatry, as in the rest of medicine, to understand health impairments, to predict the course of a condition if left untreated, and to suggest appropriate remedies. Diagnoses are tools for teaching, not weapons for wielding.
