Many QAnon followers report having mental health diagnoses

[TexasTowelie]

by Sophia Moskalenko
Research Fellow in Social Psychology, Georgia State University


QAnon is often viewed as a group associated with conspiracy, terrorism and radical action, such as the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. But radical extremism and terror may not be the real concern from this group.

QAnon followers, who may number in the millions, appear to believe a baseless and debunked conspiracy theory claiming that a satanic cabal of pedophiles and cannibals controls world governments and the media. They also subscribe to many other outlandish and improbable ideas, such as that the Earth is flat, that the coronavirus is a biological weapon used to gain control over the world’s population, that Bill Gates is somehow trying to use coronavirus vaccinations to implant microchips into people and more.

As a social psychologist, I normally study terrorists. During research for “Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon,” a forthcoming book I co-authored with security scholar Mia Bloom, I noticed that QAnon followers are different from the radicals I usually study in one key way: They are far more likely to have serious mental illnesses.

Significant conditions

I found that many QAnon followers revealed – in their own words on social media or in interviews – a wide range of mental health diagnoses, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and addiction.

Read more: https://theconversation.com/many-qanon-followers-report-having-mental-health-diagnoses-157299

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Interesting Article

I was in the "Hmmm, long distance diagnosis?" area until I read it.
I was unaware that court documents had data on these sheep arrested on 1/6/21 regarding to their mental health diagnosis.
And, it appears there are clues in their postings a professional can interpret.
I can't say I'm surprised at this, given how preposterous their premise is.

[catbyte]

2. Yeah, the fact that a kind, moral, compassionate BLACK man occupied the Oval Office for 8 years

and a WOMAN named Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 sent them over the edge. I find my compassion for them is nowhere to be found.

[SergeStorms]

3. Love your Sampler!

First time I've seen it. Very nice, and poignant.

[jmbar2]

14. Bwa Ha Ha!

Instant classic

[malaise]

4. Duh!

Rec

[IronLionZion]

5. Obamacare covers mental health treatment

these folks should try it

[Ford_Prefect]

6. This sounds like the group Cambridge Analytica was identifying for Putin.

[mountain grammy]

7. Yeah, mentally ill and heavily armed and angry.

and hate everyone who isn't.

[lagomorph777]

8. QAnon is a mental illness. It should get an entry in the next DSM.

[mwb970]

9. This is the least surprising news I will read all day.

[NoMoreRepugs]

10. Let me start by saying I am 71 years old.

I’m not so sure that 30 or 40 years ago the Q people may have been diagnosed as insane.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

15. I am certain that they would not have been permitted to purchase guns 30 or 40 years ago.

[marmar]

11. Least surprising thing I'll read today.

[Buns_of_Fire]

12. Qanon lost me when they pointedly refused to warn about crossdressing zombies

manning Jewish Space Lasers. Are they trying to distract from this clear and present danger?

[samnsara]

13. well since the boulder killer is alleged mental they decide to try that tactic too?

[BSdetect]

16. The rest are unreported

[Handler]

17. Cannibal pedophiles. Why would anyone think they are crazy 😜

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. Only nutcases and very sick persons would believe in this crap

[Wingus Dingus]

19. Er...yeah. It's a giant unifying net catching the crazies.