John Gartner: Psychologist, Author, and Mental Health Advocate

John Gartner, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who has gained public attention for his psychological assessments of political figures and historical leaders, from explorer Christopher Columbus to former US president Donald Trump. A former professor at Johns Hopkins University Medical School and a published author, Gartner has also founded a movement known as Duty to Warn. Below, explore an overview of his credentials, his commentary on various public figures, and the controversy surrounding some of his work.

Who is John Gartner?

John D. Gartner, Ph.D., is an American clinical psychologist whose work spans clinical practice, teaching, writing, and public commentary. His professional background can help provide context for understanding the assessments he has become known for.

Education and training

Gartner's academic path began at Princeton, where he earned his B.A. He went on to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts and then pursued his postdoctoral work at Cornell. This training laid the groundwork for a career that would combine clinical practice with a broader interest in psychology and public life.

Career and publications

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 in Talk magazine, The Washington Post, various journals, and in other places. He's also written two books, including "The Hypomanic Edge" and a book about former president Bill Clinton, and he contributed to "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President."

Areas of clinical expertise

Within psychotherapy, Gartner's specialties can include bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and depression. He's also taken a special interest in hypomania, a less severe form of mania in which a person may exhibit noticeably energetic activity or moods beyond their usual demeanor. Hypomania is often experienced by people living with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder. His clinical focus areas may include the following:

• Bipolar disorder, a condition that can involve shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels.
• Borderline personality disorder, which may involve difficulty with emotional regulation and relationships.
• Depression, a condition that can affect mood, motivation, and daily functioning.
• Hypomania, a state of elevated energy or mood that can be less severe than full mania.

These areas of expertise help inform the psychological assessments Gartner has offered of public figures throughout his career.

Gartner's psychological assessments of public figures and their mental fitness

Gartner's investigations into the psychological makeup of specific leaders may involve extensive research. He tends to gather background information as well as personal impressions or records from people who knew a leader well in their childhoods and during their time in the spotlight. Here are a few brief summaries of his comments on some well-known figures.

Historical figures: Columbus, Carnegie, and Venter

Much of Gartner's work on historical figures centers on his theory that hypomania can be linked to ambition and achievement. He applied this thesis to several notable individuals, each of whom he suggested may have shown hypomanic tendencies:

• Christopher Columbus: Gartner's research uncovered little-known details of this explorer's motivations for sailing westward. He theorizes that Columbus may have experienced hypomania and believed his journey would end in the Second Coming of Christ and the apocalypse.
• Andrew Carnegie: In an article for The Washington Post, Gartner restated his view that people who immigrate to America may be inclined toward success and may experience symptoms of hypomania. He points to Carnegie, whom he described as having "quite a manic personality," as an immigrant who worked in a factory for very low wages yet eventually became one of the richest people of his day.
• Craig Venter: In his book "The Hypomanic Edge," published around June 2005, Gartner assessed Venter, whose project sequenced the human genome, 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 conducted research for the book, traveling to various locations to gather information. 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 someone who experiences hypomania from time to time, and whose charisma and intelligence may have contributed to his rise before his impulsivity led to public difficulty. 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 may make 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. It's worth noting that some of the terms Gartner and others reference, such as terms describing antisocial personality disorder, are not formal clinical diagnoses. However, Gartner has acknowledged that he's never examined Donald Trump personally.

Gartner's commentary on Trump has continued over the years. As of 2024, his public concerns have shifted to include a petition and statements suggesting that Trump may show signs of cognitive decline, in addition to earlier concerns about his psychological fitness for office. These ongoing statements reflect the broader activism Gartner has pursued through the Duty to Warn movement.

The Duty to Warn movement

Duty to Warn is an organization founded by John Gartner, a teacher of psychiatric residents and author of books in the mental health sphere. Its stated mission is to raise public awareness and warn communities about what Gartner views as potential dangers posed by certain public figures. Whether these topics are political or based on world news, Gartner believes that warning the public about global crises can serve the public good. Over the years, his activism has taken several notable forms:

1. In 2017, Gartner helped launch a petition asserting that Donald Trump was mentally unfit for office, which gathered signatures from mental health professionals and members of the public.
2. Gartner contributed to "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump," a book featuring 27 psychiatrists and mental health experts assessing the president.
3. As of 2024, Gartner circulated a petition and made public statements raising concerns about Trump's cognitive fitness, representing ongoing activism.

2017 mental fitness petition

The original petition centered on Trump's mental fitness for the presidency. Gartner and other mental health professionals argued that Trump's observable behavior warranted public discussion, and the petition reportedly drew signatures from thousands of people, including many practitioners in the field.

2024 cognitive fitness concerns

More recently, Gartner's public concerns have expanded to include what he describes as signs of cognitive decline. In earlier commentary, he also referenced traits some describe as being associated with antisocial personality disorder (not a clinical diagnosis), malignant narcissism, paranoia, and a measure of sadism. His 2024 activity reflects a continuation of the Duty to Warn approach, applied to current events and figures in the political spotlight.

Controversy and ethical debate

Some readers may find Gartner's commentary about leaders they admire or dislike compelling, 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 assessments and the ethical concerns of sharing them are two key components of the debate around his work. It would take another mental health professional who has personally interviewed the subjects to fully evaluate his conclusions, though his profiles may spark conversations about the traits associated with those who hold power.

The Goldwater Rule and professional ethics

Professional guidelines exist to address situations like these. The American Psychiatric Association penned the Goldwater Rule in 1973, and it remains a frequent point of reference in discussions of Gartner's work.

The Goldwater Rule technically applies to psychiatrists, while Gartner is a clinical psychologist. Even so, many professionals in the mental health field feel that there are ethical concerns to consider in his work, since the underlying principle of not assessing someone without direct examination extends across the field.

Debate within the mental health field

Opinions differ considerably on whether Gartner's approach is appropriate. Gartner typically conducts research on each of his subjects, learning about their family backgrounds, examining their public behavior, and investigating by various means. However, he doesn't sit down with the subject personally or conduct clinical interviews. Without that first-hand, direct examination, many psychologists believe he should not propose diagnoses, viewing his information as potentially interesting but too incomplete to be accurate.

Others argue that a public figure's behavior is observable and that public safety may warrant open discussion. From this perspective, unsolicited opinions can encourage the public to think more carefully about those making decisions for millions. Whether Gartner is correct in any given case tends to be more of an academic question, as an opinion about a leader's mental state is not generally enough to remove them from office. Understanding the conditions Gartner discusses can help readers make sense of these debates.

Understanding mental health conditions Gartner discusses

The conditions that appear frequently in Gartner's work are ones many people encounter, either personally or through someone they know. Learning about them can be educational rather than diagnostic, and it may prompt helpful self-reflection.

Hypomania can involve a period of elevated energy, mood, or activity that is noticeable but less severe than full mania. Bipolar disorder may involve shifts between different mood states, including depressive episodes and periods of heightened energy. Narcissistic personality disorder can involve patterns related to self-image, empathy, and relationships. Recognizing that these are real conditions, rather than simply labels, can make it easier to consider seeking support when something feels off.

*Based on finalized paid psychiatry visits with a copay. Insurance availability, coverage, and costs vary by state, plan, provider network, and provider availability.

Benefits of online therapy

Reading about the mental health conditions Gartner discusses may prompt some people to reflect on their own well-being. If that resonates with you, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp can offer accessible support from a licensed therapist chosen from a network of more than 30,000 qualified providers, with the added convenience of connecting from wherever you are. BetterHelp now also offers psychiatry services through Uplift, an additional care option available alongside therapy that can be part of a holistic mental health care experience. Psychiatry services may include medication management when clinically appropriate, with all treatment decisions made by a licensed psychiatric provider. Some providers on BetterHelp may also be in-network with certain health plans — co-pays average about $23/session for eligible members. *Coverage varies by plan, provider, and therapist availability, and is currently available in select states, including VA, DC, MD, FL, NY, AR, IN, KY, TX, PA, IL, NC, MT, MI, CO, OK, CT, MO, NV, OH, NJ, TN, AZ, MA, NE, DE, WV, VT, NH, NM, AL, UT, and GA. You can check in-network status on the BetterHelp site. Don't see your state? We are currently working with insurance carriers to expand coverage across the United States. In the meantime, our flexible subscription model continues to be an option to receive quality care from our extensive therapist network. *Medication availability and coverage may vary by member location, clinical appropriateness, and individual pharmacy/insurance benefits. Prescribing decisions are made by the treating clinicians. We do not guarantee that any specific medication will be prescribed or covered by a member's insurance plan. Not everyone needs or benefits from medication, and medication decisions are personalized.

How effective is online therapy for mental health concerns?

Online therapy may be a helpful option for many of the concerns Gartner discusses, including anxiety and depression, according to a 2021 meta-analysis. A meta-analysis by Fernandez and colleagues, published in 2021 in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, found that video-delivered therapy may produce outcomes comparable to in-person treatment for some concerns. This is reflected in real-world outcomes as well, as 72% of BetterHelp users experienced a reduction in symptoms in 12 weeks. If you're interested in taking the next step, you can fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with a provider, then meet with them remotely via phone, video call, or in-app messaging.