Psychiatrist: Brett Kavanaugh should seek psychological care for his disturbed mental status

One psychiatrist is suggesting Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh seek professional help to handle some of his issues that were on full display in the hearing last week.

According to a letter to The Chicago Sun-Times, Kavanaugh's problems are more than so-called "affluenza."

"In my final year of medical school, I interviewed for psychiatry residency programs," said Dr. Brad K. Greenspan, MD. He said that he wasn't prepared for it at all and no one in his school explained what would happen or what they'd ask.

"I often found the process pleasant and informative," he continued. "However, on occasion, I encountered a stress interview, in which a professor of psychiatry attempts to push a candidate to the brink to determine if he or she can withstand the rigors of residency."

He explained that it took place at Northwestern Memorial. First, his grades were questioned followed by probing questions about his childhood. The interviewer "demeaned my childhood and critiqued me mercilessly," he wrote. He said he tried to maintain his composure and be dignified while avoiding anger. He left the room feeling demolished but politely thanked the interview.

Another person waiting after him walked into the room next, emerging 35 minutes later with he and the psychiatrist laughing. Instead, the student used humor to defend himself.

He explained that he learned a lot from the experience and was able to improve his performance in stressful situations. But he had one major difference from Brett Kavanaugh.

"In none of my interviews, however, did I behave like Brett Kavanaugh during his Senate hearing," he wrote. "Whether Judge Kavanaugh lied, whether he did or currently does suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence, whether he is or isn’t guilty of sexual abuse in the past, his interview behavior alone was, in my opinion, appalling and disqualifying. Despite extraordinary coaching in preparation for his testimony, he behaved with hostility and belligerence. He was, at times, demonstrably abusive."

If that interview was similar to a stress interview, Kavanaugh failed, according to Dr. Greenspan. He noted he can't believe any employer would ever determine he was an acceptable candidate.

"Certainly, if he were a candidate for a psychiatry residency and I had been stress-interviewing him, I’d have urged him to seek psychiatric or psychological care, given his disturbed mental status," he wrote.

Read the full letter to the editor here.