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Your email address will not be published.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

  • A mixed media collage of a silhouette filled with torn paper and translucent layers, symbolizing the invisible nature of emotional neglect. 10 Traits of People Emotionally Neglected as Kids
  • A mixed-media collage showing a rigid, golden silhouette with cracks revealing a soft, watercolor interior, representing performative armor. 7 Behaviors People Mistake For Confidence But Aren’t
  • A woman sits alone at a kitchen table in dim evening light while her partner stands in the background, illustrating emotional distance. 9 Psychological Reasons Why People Stay in Unhappy Relationships
  • An illustration of a person using a prism to turn a chaotic blue wave into a clear spectrum of distinct colors. 10 Signs You Have Exceptionally High Emotional Intelligence
  • A mixed-media collage of an older person's profile filled with childhood drawings and school reports, representing deep-seated habits. 8 Childhood Habits That Still Secretly Shape Your Personality After 60
  • An abstract mixed-media piece showing bright yellow and orange splashes like a laugh, covering a dark, dense gray background. 7 Signs Someone Uses Humor To Avoid Serious Conversations
  • Two friends sitting at a kitchen table, unconsciously mirroring each other's posture by resting their chins on their hands. 7 Signs Someone Mirrors Your Personality Without Realizing It
  • A woman laughs at her phone while her friend sits beside her on a sofa with a forced, thin smile and envious eyes. 7 Friendship Behaviors That Reveal Hidden Jealousy
  • A mixed media collage showing a glowing smartphone screen inside a mirror frame, casting a shadow of a staged performance on a curtain. 7 Signs Someone Is Performing Kindness For Attention
  • A mixed media collage of a person in a theatrical spotlight while their partner sits in the shadows of a theater audience. 7 Signs Someone Loves Attention More Than They Love You

Newsletter

Get the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

OCD

Could It Be OCD? These 9 Interesting Facts Will Surprise You

…Have you ever heard about obsessive-compulsive disorder, also simply known as OCD? You’ve surely met…

Read More →
men become cranky as they age

Why Do Men Become Cranky as They Age? 9 Psychological Reasons

The psychological explanation behind “Why do men become cranky as they age”  The phrase “grumpy…

Read More →
schizophrenia

6 Risk Factors for Schizophrenia Every Senior Must Know

What do we really know about schizophrenia?  Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that results in…

Read More →
toxic self relationship and self love, taking to a narcissist, midlife crisis

5 Clear Indicators of Toxic Self-Relationship

How toxic are you being with yourself? I hope you know that more important than…

Read More →
dementia

7 Subtle Signs Your Spouse Has Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term that encompasses many symptoms and diseases that lead to a…

Read More →
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

Alzheimer’s vs. Parkinson’s: 7 Differences and Symptoms You Must Know

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: both of them are serious medical conditions. Let us clarify the main…

Read More →
depression anxiety

Depression vs. Anxiety: Which One Do You Have?

How can you tell if you have depression or anxiety? Two examples of mood disorders…

Read More →
memory, alzheimer's

Alzheimer’s Disease: 8 Early Signs You Shouldn’t Overlook

The terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” are often used interchangeably. Despite their similarities, there are differences…

Read More →
stay calm during election

9 Ways to Stay Calm During Election Season

Stay calm during election season by following these steps: With whom am I going to…

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.