Calls from psychiatrists for Donald Trump to be declared unfit to be US president on mental health grounds are misguided, says Dr Allen Frances

Recipient of psychiatric name-calling Mario Tama/Getty Images

Donald Trump is unlike any other president in US history. The country has had its share of stupid presidents, impulsive presidents, lying presidents, ignorant presidents, narcissistic presidents, bellicose presidents and unpredictable presidents.

But never before has one so fully embodied all these undesirable traits. And never before have the institutions of US democracy appeared so fragile in the face of autocratic attack.

Not surprisingly, Trump’s radical policies, strange behaviour and unusual leadership style have inspired fierce political opposition. What is a surprise is that they have become the source of widespread armchair …