Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

elleng

(136,071 posts)
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 09:48 PM Mar 2024

Definitions: Dementia and Demented:

Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.

Demented is an adjective describing behavior that is crazy, unhinged, or insane.

The terms clearly differ.

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Definitions: Dementia and Demented: (Original Post) elleng Mar 2024 OP
Trump has that and his indictments aren't helping his mind. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #1
Yes Trump is under a great deal of stress, and he will continue to decline as a result. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #5
He's clearly afflicted with both disorders Deuxcents Mar 2024 #2
I think otherwise, as, I think, so does Dr. Bandy Lee: elleng Mar 2024 #3
You do or do not believe Trump is demented? Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #7
The point I hoped to make in the OP was that Demented and Dementia differ. elleng Mar 2024 #8
I like her and the work she is doing. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #12
Trump is a hot mess in terms of psychopathology. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #4
Right. elleng Mar 2024 #6
Trump is psychotic? I have big doubts about this diagnosis. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #10
Read and listen to Dr. Bandy Lee; elleng Mar 2024 #11
I just don't agree with some of her points. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #13
which may be why the medical/psych community kicked did such a job elleng Mar 2024 #15
I don't think Dr. Lee was kicked around. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #19
Sorry you missed a BIG story about Dr. Bandy Lee's treatment by 'professional' community. elleng Mar 2024 #20
I was only speaking for my cohort group. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #21
Below average intelligence as well. For a long time. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #9
Trump has a street smarts and animal cunning. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #14
He's smart enough to know he's got a lot of backers who would like to turn the USA into the USSR. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #16
Exactly, he is smart enough to bribe and threaten a huge group of supporters. Irish_Dem Mar 2024 #18
Yes and elleng Mar 2024 #17

Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
5. Yes Trump is under a great deal of stress, and he will continue to decline as a result.
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:01 PM
Mar 2024

We will see him get worse over the next year.

elleng

(136,071 posts)
3. I think otherwise, as, I think, so does Dr. Bandy Lee:
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 09:59 PM
Mar 2024

The ‘Shared Psychosis’ of Donald Trump and His Loyalists

Forensic psychiatrist Bandy X. Lee explains the outgoing president’s pathological appeal and how to wean people from it.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-shared-psychosis-of-donald-trump-and-his-loyalists/

Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
12. I like her and the work she is doing.
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:24 PM
Mar 2024

But the article is a bit of hyperbole, dramatic and non clinical.
We have no evidence that Trump is acutely psychotic in the clinical sense.

She is also talking more about the shared psychopatholgy between Trump and his cult.
Which I mostly agree with.

It is not how we write up evaluations and reports that could be presented as court testimony.

But I know why she is talking this way and I agree it is a good presentation that people can understand.
And grabs attention.


Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
4. Trump is a hot mess in terms of psychopathology.
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 09:59 PM
Mar 2024

He has quite a few diagnoses, and they intertwine and overlap.

He is a narcissistic personality disorder, a sociopath (antisocial) personality disorder, chronic drug abuser, sexual deviancy,
and now we see cognitive and neurological problems. At times he seems to show some signs of psychosis, but that could be
from some of the other diagnoses.

If I was teaching a graduate class in abnormal psychology, we could take one of his speeches line by line and
show how each sentence or word connects to which particular pathology.


Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
10. Trump is psychotic? I have big doubts about this diagnosis.
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:16 PM
Mar 2024

Narcissists have such a distorted and grandiose sense of self it appears psychotic, almost delusional.
But it is NOT a true psychosis.

Sociopaths are also chronic liars who manipulate and distort for personal gain.
For example it is quite possible that Trump knows full well he is telling lies.
We see the difference in his demeanor in public and while under oath testimony.
He lies without reservation in public, but under oath, he "cannot recall."

So what appears psychotic could just be a sociopath lying for personal gain.

Also a drug induced psychosis is not something that can be used as not guilty by reason of insanity.
It is a self induced temporary detachment from reality. Once the drug is withdrawn the person
is perfectly sane.

I seriously doubt that someone grossly impaired and disorganized by a serious psychotic disorder
could organize a presidential campaign and function to the extent Trump can function.
He is crazy like a fox.

Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
13. I just don't agree with some of her points.
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:25 PM
Mar 2024

We have no evidence at all the Trump is psychotic in the clinical sense.

elleng

(136,071 posts)
15. which may be why the medical/psych community kicked did such a job
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:30 PM
Mar 2024

kicking her around/out for such a long time.

How does his niece Mary's 'analysis' compare?

Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
19. I don't think Dr. Lee was kicked around.
Sun Mar 3, 2024, 07:28 AM
Mar 2024

People understand what she is doing.
She is raising the alarm and has done so from the beginning.
In the big picture she is quite correct that Trump poses a serious threat to the US and to the world.

I just question all the psychotic descriptions. There is a danger here in that Trump could use some of this
later to file a "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea which of course is not applicable to him at all.

And of course, many do not believe Trump is psychotic in the least. He is a ruthless dangerous sociopath.
And knows exactly what he is doing.

Dr. Mary Trump is a psychologist so is much more careful about throwing around diagnostic labels.
She presents the facts and history to make her statements. Therefore she is quite accurate.

Dr. Lee is a psychiatrist who went to medical school to learn about all kinds of medical illnesses.
Then a bit of training to learn how to prescribe medication to mentally ill patients.

Psychologists spend all of their time in academia and internships focusing on the assessment and treatment of mentally
ill patients. In my case I spent 8 years, Masters and PhD, with a specialty in the assessment of intellectual and personality in adults and children. Learning the very sophisticated and complicated approaches to making accurate diagnostic assessments.
When psychiatrists are interested in the most accurate and comprehensive diagnostic workup of a patient they call on a psychologist to do the job.


Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
21. I was only speaking for my cohort group.
Sun Mar 3, 2024, 06:19 PM
Mar 2024

I cannot speak for other disciplines or groups of people.

Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
14. Trump has a street smarts and animal cunning.
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:28 PM
Mar 2024

He is not educated or intellectually curious.
And has little knowledge outside of how to con people and manipulate them.

But we certainly cannot say he is stupid.

For someone to get to the White House and then to manipulate the court system the way
he is doing, we are not looking at a stupid man, far from it.

OAITW r.2.0

(28,392 posts)
16. He's smart enough to know he's got a lot of backers who would like to turn the USA into the USSR.
Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:35 PM
Mar 2024

If Trump win's we look like Russia in 10 years.

Irish_Dem

(57,536 posts)
18. Exactly, he is smart enough to bribe and threaten a huge group of supporters.
Sun Mar 3, 2024, 07:07 AM
Mar 2024

Oh yes he is definitely smart enough to know what he is doing.
And he does it all gladly, turning the US into a dictatorship.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Health»Definitions: Dementia and...