John D. Gartner's Mental Health Assessments

Psychologist John D. Gartner has made a name for himself by commenting on the mental fitness of leaders and historical figures, from explorer Christopher Columbus to former US president Donald Trump. Here, we’ll give a brief overview of some of the statements Gartner has made about various public figures from the past and present. We’ll also outline the controversy surrounding some of his work.

Who is John D. Gartner as a psychologist, author, and speaker?

John D. Gartner, Ph.D., is an American clinical psychologist. In terms of education, he earned his B.A. at Princeton and his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts, then did his postdoctoral work at Cornell.

Psychologist, speaker, and author

He's been practicing psychotherapy for over 20 years and was formerly a professor at Johns Hopkins University Medical School. Gartner lives and practices in Baltimore and has an office in New York City as well. His work has been widely published, having appeared on the page in Talk magazine, The Washington Post, various journals, and in other places. He’s also written two books.

Contributions to mental health studies

Gartner's specialties within psychotherapy generally include bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and depression. He's also taken a special interest in hypomania, which is when a person exhibits noticeably energetic activity or moods beyond their usual demeanor. A less severe form of mania, hypomania is often experienced by people living with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder. 

John Gartner's assessments and mental health diagnosis of specific leaders

Gartner's investigations into the psychological makeup of specific leaders are typically extensive and carefully undertaken and not played at lightly. Gartner tends to gather a lot of background information as well as personal impressions or records from the people who knew a leader well in their childhoods as well as during their time in the spotlight. Here are a few brief summaries of his comments on some of these well-known figures.

Christopher Columbus

John Gartner's research on Christopher Columbus uncovered little-known details of this historical figure's motivations for sailing westward. Gartner theorizes that Columbus may have experienced hypomania and that he thought his journey would end in the Second Coming of Christ and the apocalypse. 

Andrew Carnegie

Gartner wrote an article for The Washington Post in which he restated his opinion that people who come to America are often bound for success and experiencing symptoms of hypomania. He gives the example of Andrew Carnegie, who Gartner says had “quite a manic personality.” Gartner points out that Carnegie was an immigrant who worked in a factory for extremely low wages when he arrived in America but eventually became one of the richest people of his day.

Craig Venter

Gartner also completed an assessment of Craig Venter—whose project sequenced the human genome—in his book, The Hypomanic Edge, published around June 2005. Gartner also labeled Venter as someone with hypomanic tendencies. 

Bill Clinton

In Gartner's book on Bill Clinton published around October 2008, the psychologist explains in detail his professional perception of the inner workings of Clinton's mind. Gartner spent a lot of time and energy conducting research for the book, traveling around the globe to get as complete a picture as possible. For example, Gartner traveled to Africa to learn about Clinton's philanthropic work with people living with AIDS there. He created a psychological profile of Clinton based on both personal observations and second-hand interpretations of Clinton's behavior.

Gartner assesses Clinton as a great man who experiences hypomania from time to time, and whose charisma and intelligence propelled him to the top before his impulsivity led to public humiliation. Gartner argues that Clinton rose from the ashes of that defeat to become a highly respected humanitarian leader and discusses his opinion that Clinton's psychological makeup makes him uniquely well-suited to be a peacemaker.

Donald Trump

U.S. News quoted John Gartner as saying, “Donald Trump is dangerously mentally ill and temperamentally incapable of being president.” Gartner's analysis of Trump's behavior led him to suggest a diagnosis of malignant narcissistic personality disorder. However, Gartner admits that he's never examined Donald Trump personally.

Controversy: What mental health professionals say about Gartner's assessments

Many people find it interesting to hear what Gartner has to say about the leaders they admire or dislike, but not all agree with his methods. Some question the validity of his conclusions as well as his wisdom in presenting them unprompted. The accuracy of his proposed diagnoses as well as the ethical concerns of sharing them are two key components of the controversy around his assessments.

Accuracy of proposed diagnoses by John Gartner

Gartner usually does a lot of research on each of his subjects. He typically learns about their family backgrounds, examines their public behavior, and investigates as much as possible by many different means. However, he doesn't sit down with the subject personally or conduct any clinical interviews with them. Without that first-hand, direct examination, many psychologists believe that Gartner should not propose diagnoses. Gartner's information may be interesting and a significant part of the picture, but many believe it's too incomplete to be accurate.

Ethical concerns regarding John Gartner’s diagnosis for each public figure

The American Psychiatric Association penned “The Goldwater Rule” in 1973, asserting that psychiatrists should not provide professional opinions to the media about figures whom they have not personally examined. In general, the figure should also give their consent for the mental health professional to discuss their conclusions. That’s why many professionals in the mental health field feel that there are ethical concerns to consider in Gartner’s work. 

Are Gartner's assessments for each individual significant?

Is there significance to what Gartner has said about these individuals beyond entertainment value? Regarding the specific psychological profiles he presents, it would take another mental health professional who has personally interviewed the subjects to fully and accurately evaluate his assessments. That said, there may be value in the conversations sparked by his profiles of current world leaders. They may inspire people to think more carefully about the characteristics of those in power and to continue a dialogue about the traits that are valued most in politicians and other prominent figures.

The final question many people have about Gartner’s profiles: What if he’s right? The question of whether he’s correct in his opinions of current world leaders is generally no more than an academic one. An unsolicited opinion about a politician’s mental state isn’t generally enough to oust a leader, even if that opinion comes from a highly educated mental health professional. That said, again, it can be productive to have these conversations and for the public to think more carefully about those who are making decisions for millions.

Seeking a therapist or psychiatrist for help with mental illness

Another potential benefit of public psychological profiles like Gartner’s is that they may help raise awareness about various mental health concerns, such as bipolar disorder and depression. This awareness may help those living with such conditions to seek help. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, it’s generally recommended that you seek professional evaluation and support.

Find an online therapist or psychiatrist

In-person support may be required for those experiencing acute or severe symptoms. Otherwise, online therapy may be a more convenient alternative than in-person therapy sessions—particularly if you face barriers to seeking mental health care—such as a lack of providers in your area or symptoms that make it difficult to leave home. Through a platform like BetterHelp, you can fill out a brief questionnaire and then get matched with a provider in as little as 48 hours. You can then meet with them remotely via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from anywhere you have an internet connection. Research suggests that online therapy can be as effective as in-person care for addressing a variety of psychiatric disorders.