One common function of mental health professionals is evaluating and assigning specific diagnostic codes to clients. These codes unlock the funds that insurance companies pay for treatment. For example, F 41.1 equates to generalized anxiety disorder; F 33, depression.
Many Idaho residents at this time of year open their newsfeeds with a sick sense of dread: “What will the Legislature do next?” One day, one reads about large budget cuts at Idaho State University, related to budget holdbacks affecting all levels of public education. The next day, the news reports on a bill on the House floor that would fine local governments for flying the Pride flag.
This raises an interesting hypothetical question. What diagnosis might a therapist discover if the legislature walked into his or her office? Let us look at the pathology, propose diagnoses, and suggest an active treatment.
Symptom: Limited empathy. Lack of sensitivity or awareness of the suffering and needs of others.
Evidence: After five years and $400 billion in tax cuts, Idaho has a $55 million budget deficit. Rather than filling the hole with new revenue, the Legislature chose to cut services that help the vulnerable, such as peer support services for those on the path to recovery from addictions or severe mental illness.
Symptom: Irrational fear. Irrationality is based on thinking that is not reasonable or based on faulty premises. Fear is based on perceived or actual threat.
Evidence: Sending the recent anti-pride flag bill to the House floor for a vote. What is so scary about queer folks to the legislature? It keeps returning to the issue like a dog to a well-gnawed bone.
Symptom: Cult-like or extreme groupthink. Excessive hero worship or blindly following the demands of a cult-like leader.
Evidence: The legislature seeks to comply with the “one big brutal bill,” slashing another $155 million from Idaho state coffers. Setting aside common sense, self-interest, and good government sounds like cult practice, or at least extreme groupthink, to those who do not follow MAGA ideology.
Diagnosis: Delusional Disorder, Persecutory or Grandiose Type. May involve irrational beliefs about others, including phobias or extreme worship of individuals. This diagnosis helps explain two of the symptoms listed above. First, extreme fear of and hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community. Second, blindly following the Trump Administration off a fiscal and moral cliff. Less revenue, more budget cuts.
Diagnosis: Narcissistic Personality Disorder. A pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. The legislature is more interested in pursuing its ideology of tax cuts and in looking good to a few key, influential stakeholders than in meeting the needs of the people. The livelihoods and health of others be damned. Public testimony, what’s good for citizens, and human kindness do not factor in the grand scheme.
Treatment: Election 2026. Send members of the legislature home, where they can do no more harm.
Prognosis: We the People will recover from prolonged symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Breathe everyone!
Todd DeVries works as a mental health professional. He is the state committeeman for the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee.