Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

  • Home
  • Relationships
  • Mental Health
  • Expert Tips
  • Life
  • Family
  • Marriage

7 Mentally Ill US Presidents and Their Symptoms

June 30, 2023 · Mental Health
mentally ill US presidents
Photo by Joseph Sohm from Shutterstock

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated, 1 in 10 Americans suffers from depression. Believe it or not, it also applies to our leaders: we had plenty of mentally ill US presidents.

Today, we’re going to discuss all the mood disorders that affected some of the most important political figures in our country, and before you start reading the article, I wonder if you can pinpoint what names are on this list!

There’s a 2006 article written by psychiatrists from Duke University Medical Center that carefully reviewed the biographies of all American presidents from 1776 to 1974. The study was later published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, analyzing historical data from over 37 presidents to look for possible symptoms of mental illnesses.

What they discovered was simply astonishing because, according to these Duke researchers, 49% of former presidents suffered from some form of mental illness. Among all of them, depression was the most common. So let’s unpack this list of mentally ill US presidents together. Are you ready?

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

2 responses to “7 Mentally Ill US Presidents and Their Symptoms”

  1. Chris says:
    May 22, 2025 at 12:20 am

    Trump: Histrionic personality Disorder,
    + Psychopathic Disorder, + Megalomania + Anti-social Pers. Disorder

    Reply
  2. Chris says:
    May 22, 2025 at 12:52 am

    Reader, save your time, DJT isn’t even mentioned here as the 8th POTUS with SEVERE MENTAL issues (histrionic, psychopathic, megalomaniac, narcissistic, anti-personality)

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • Two people sitting on a sofa in a quiet, sunlit living room, showing a moment of supportive connection and listening. 9 Things You Should NEVER Say to Someone With Anxiety
  • A tense, high-contrast conversation between two people in a minimalist setting. 5 Body Language Secrets That Reveal Someone Is Lying to You
  • A woman sitting thoughtfully by a window in a soft-lit, modern living room. 8 Signs You Were Raised by an Emotionally Unavailable Parent
  • Surreal illustration of a person looking into a mirror that reflects a golden labyrinth, symbolizing internal complexity. The 6 Most Dangerous Lies We Tell Ourselves Every Day
  • A woman in a peaceful, sunlit room embodying emotional clarity and calm. 10 Things Emotionally Intelligent People NEVER Do
  • A sophisticated woman in her 60s looking out a window in a bright, modern home. 7 Habits That Secretly Destroy Your Mental Health After 60
  • A woman looking distressed and thoughtful during a difficult conversation with a partner in a modern kitchen. 9 Manipulative Phrases Toxic People Use Without You Realizing
  • An adult daughter comforting her elderly father by a sunlit window. 5 Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Most People Ignore
  • A person balancing on a thin, fraying shadow thread over a dark blue background. 8 Things Narcissists Say to Keep You Under Control
  • A couple standing far apart in a dimly lit, modern living room, looking away from each other. 6 Silent Signs Your Marriage Is Slowly Falling Apart

Newsletter

Get the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

paranoia after 60

5 Subtle Signs of Paranoia After 60, According to Psychiatrists

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for signs of paranoia after 60.…

Read More →
Mind-Decluttering Technique

8 Inspiring Mind-Decluttering Techniques for More Peace and Less Stress

Let our mind-decluttering techniques take you on a path to healing! If someone says something…

Read More →
depression

5 “Normal” Things That Are Actually Depression

Are you doing these things? It might be depression! The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates…

Read More →
tips for de-stressing

8 Tips for De-Stressing After a Conflict

How many tips for de-stressing do you know, and which one works best for you? …

Read More →
anxiety, relationship, stress

These Are the 6 Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a common feeling. It’s the main way we respond to stress and warns…

Read More →
affect

7 Negative Ways in Which Stress Affects the Body

Have you ever wondered how stress ends up affecting your body? Stress has been known…

Read More →
war

Most Devastating Psychological Consequences of War

The pain, suffering, and displacement that often come with such a traumatic event is an…

Read More →
Emotional Abuse

6 Damaging After Effects of Emotional Abuse

Are you a victim of emotional abuse? Have you or someone you love suffered from…

Read More →
narcissistic

9 Alarming Signs You Have Narcissistic Abuse Syndrome

This is probably one of the worst types of unhealthy relationship dynamics… Unhealthy relationship dynamics…

Read More →

Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@psychologydiary.com

Explore

  • About Us
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Editorial Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Expert Tips
  • Family
  • Life
  • Marriage
  • Mental Health

© 2026 Psychology Diary. All rights reserved.