Psychiatric Org Tells Members: Don’t Call Trump Crazy

The Hill reports:

Don’t call presidential candidates mentally ill, the American Psychiatric Association told its members this week. Following a bad week for Donald Trump, in which he insulted a Gold Star family and declined to endorse Speaker Paul Ryan before doing it anyway on Friday, many have started to question whether Trump has a personality disorder.

Called the Goldwater Rule, psychiatrists may share with the public their expertise on psychiatric issues in general, but it’s considered unethical to offer an opinion unless they’ve conducted an examination and has been given permission to talk about it.

“Simply put, breaking the Goldwater Rule is irresponsible, potentially stigmatizing, and definitely unethical,” Maria Oquendo told members this week. “The unique atmosphere of this year’s election cycle may lead some to want to psychoanalyze the candidates, but to do so would not only be unethical, it would be irresponsible.”

Meanwhile Trump is doing this:

Donald Trump continued to roll out his newly framed attack on Hillary Clinton’s mental health on Saturday night at a New Hampshire campaign rally, declaring that she was “unhinged,” “unbalanced,” “incompetent,” and a “horrible, horrible human being” who is unfit to be president.

The second straight day of such rhetoric indicates that Trump is clearly trying to take the advice of GOP advisers who have attempted to get Trump to focus the campaign — and his at-times wandering attention — back on Clinton, particularly after what has arguably been the worst week yet for Trump’s presidential campaign.