The American Psychoanalytic Association has rolled back a decades-old rule forbidding members from talking about the mental health of public figures and the President of the United States in particular. From STAT News:
The statement, an email this month from the executive committee of the American Psychoanalytic Association to its 3,500 members, represents the first significant crack in the profession’s decades-old united front aimed at preventing experts from discussing the psychiatric aspects of politicians’ behavior. It will likely make many of its members feel more comfortable speaking openly about President Trump’s mental health.
The impetus for the email was “belief in the value of psychoanalytic knowledge in explaining human behavior,” said psychoanalytic association past president Dr. Prudence Gourguechon, a psychiatrist in Chicago. “We don’t want to prohibit our members from using their knowledge responsibly.”
That responsibility is especially great today, she told STAT, “since Trump’s behavior is so different from anything we’ve seen before” in a commander in chief.
Taking a similar stance, Dr. Leonard Glass resigned in protest from the American Psychiatric Association, saying it was his duty to share his knowledge:
Last week, in an essay in Psychiatric Times, Glass called the prohibition on such communication “an unacceptable infringement on my right and duty” to discuss issues “where the perspective of psychiatrists could be very relevant and enlightening.” He ended the essay by announcing his resignation from the American Psychiatric Association, which adopted the rule in 1973. He had been a member for 41 years.
Tuesday, Jul 25, 2017 · 3:47:21 PM +00:00 · Jen Hayden
Update with info from BlueDC to clarify this is not the American Psychological Association, rather the smaller American Psychoanalytic Association.
Note: The “American Psychoanalytic Association” — the APsaA — is NOT the “American Psychological Association” — the APA - despite the similar names. It is the American Psychological Association that is the vast sprawling, powerful organization the desired, among other thing, whether you are credited, not this “Psychoanalytic” thing. Don’t let the names trick you.