Background In Nigeria, there have been calls in the popular press for politicians and other aspirants to public office to be subjected to psychiatric testing before they are deemed eligible to hold such positions.
Aim To examine the issues surrounding this highly contentious subject. To assess the practical and ethical difficulties involved, and the gains or losses that may arise from any effort to implement it.
Method A Medline search of literature on the subject from different cultural and historical contexts was undertaken.
Results Despite accounts of formal psychiatric illness in a number of historical figures, no clear evidence was found in the literature that politicians and public office holders are more prone to mental disorder than the general public.
Conclusion Standardized testing to identify gross abnormality of judgement, perception and cognition in
politicians is possible. However there is no evidence that such testing will reduce the incidence of unethical behaviour and political chicanery which are the prime reasons for the clamour for psychiatric testing.
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