Both somatic and psychiatric abnormalities are not uncommon among politicians. Clinical insights may help to understand their suboptimal decisions and behavior. If a leader is psychotic while other functions are more or less intact, he or she can preserve abilities to remain in a position of power. Grave consequences occur when paranoid ideas persist in a dictator, so that delusions are put into life. Some people suffering from paranoid personality disorder are belligerent against delusional goals. Governments in democracy are more transparent; therefore, it is less probable that power would be kept by mentally abnormal individuals. In the author's opinion, there is danger of a large-scale war thanks to paranoid ideation in Vladimir Putin. Arguments in favor of this hypothesis are discussed here. More expert opinions are needed. In his childhood, Putin was a victim of maltreatment. Reportedly, child abuse statistically predicts psychosis and some other mental disorders. Putin formulated the aims of his military operation, one of them being protecting Russian-speakers from genocide. It is known that ethnic Russians have not undergone genocide. Apparently, this idea is delusional. Many people subscribe to delusions at large. Besides, there is a hypothesis that Putin has hubris syndrome. In conclusion, mental derangements in politicians should be diagnosed by psychiatrists on the basis of language and behavior.
Sergei V. Jargin (Wed,) studied this question.