John D. Gartner, Ph.D.

John D. Gartner, Ph.D.

Above all do no harm. That's the Hippocratic Oath, the first commandment of medical ethics since 400 B.C. Yet, I believe, most psychiatrists are harming their hypomanic patients by overprescribing mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics that make them overweight, sedated, cognitively dulled and depressed.

The most common complaint that brings someone of hypomanic temperament to treatment is depression, and they will most likely receive a diagnosis of bipolar type II.

Hypomanic patients tell me that their "normal selves," before they got depressed, were energetic, creative, and dynamic. Their friends and loved ones found them to be fun loving, funny, optimistic, charismatic and full of life. They were professionally ambitious, driven, and super productive. Yes, it's true that they also made whoppingly stupid impulsive mistakes, along with being insufferably impatient, irritable and arrogant-hypomanic temperament is a double-edged sword. But overall, they liked the person they had once been before they became depressed, and fervently wished for only one thing: to have that person back. The thing that was standing in their way is not their illness, but their doctor. These patients came to their psychiatrists seeking a cure for their depression. What they got was a chemical lobotomy.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Dr. Gartner began his work with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in 1987, after completing a post-doctoral fellowship on the topic at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center, under the auspices of Dr. Otto Kernberg, noted authority in the field. People diagnosed with BPD have problems with impulsivity, mood swings, intense unstable relationships, and self destructive behaviors such as self-cutting.

The Spectrum of Bipolar Disorder

Dr. Gartner treats people at all levels of the bipolar spectrum from the classic manic depressive with a history of hospitalizations, to the high functioning hypomanic CEO who can't manage his or her impulses despite their great talents.

Because of his book, The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a lot of) Success in America, Dr. Gartner is one of the most recognized names in the world in the study of hypomania. The New York Times recognized his book as one of the most important new ideas of 2005. This mildly manic temperament can be found among the most creative, charismatic, high functioning movers and shakers in many fields, and Dr. Gartner has suggested it has played a role in defining the American temperament. However, while the temperament has many upsides, there are typical problems hypomanics deal with related to managing their inborn impulsivity, impatience, inflated self esteem, risk taking that often reflects poor judgment, and vulnerability to addictive substances and behaviors.

Location, Appointments, Telephone Consultations

Dr. Gartner’s office is on the grounds of Baltimore’s historic Sheppard Pratt Hospital at 6525 N. Charles Street, Suite 143, Baltimore MD 21204. For an appointment please contact Dr. Gartner today. Telephone consultations can also be arranged.

Patient Testimonials