I just LOVE it when pundits and politicians talk about postpartum depression. Do you detect a note of sarcasm?

In the latest issue of the magazine Vanity Fair, Todd Purdum writes this in his article on former Vice Presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palinand the 2008 Presidential campaign:

"Some top aides worried about her mental state: was it possible that she was experiencing postpartum depression? (Palin's youngest son was less than six months old.)"

Purdumdoesn't go into whyPalin's aides wouldhave thought that. In the paragraphin which herefersto postpartum depression, his only explanation is that Palin was doing what she wanted to, rather than following the campaign's direction, and was "maintaining only thebarest level of civil discourse" with certain handlers. Wow. I've never seen either oneof these behaviors mentioned as symptoms of postpartum depression. Perhaps we should add a question about that to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening Scale to make it more effective:

In the past 7 days, I have been able to have civil discourse with my colleagues:

– Most of the time

– Sometimes

– Not very often

– No, not at all

Purdum, asper usualwhen it comes to themedia, shows very little understanding of postpartum depression. PPD is not a joke. It is NOT about being able to get along with others, even though of course anger and irritability can come into play. It'sNOT about being an independent woman, or being disagreeable, or being emotional.

Women with postpartum depression are so affected by their illness that it impacts their ability to function on a daily basis. If Gov. Palin had been having difficulty sleeping and eating, wondering why she had ever become a mother, withdrawing from family and friends, crying nonstop, feeling absolutely miserable and disconnected from herself, wonderinghow on earthshe could get through the next five minutes and even possibly considering suicide, then perhaps she did indeed have postpartum depression. I haveseen NO evidence of that. Indeed, it would surprise me that any new mother in the serious throes of postpartum depression would be able to fly all over the country gladhanding and making public speeches and smiling so damn much all day long.

Even more interesting to meis that Purdumshows no concern for Palin, shouldsheinfacthave been suffering from postpartum depression, and it doesn't seem anyone elsequoted in the article was concerned for herhealth and safety either. Does he understand how serious postpartum depression is?

I might actually have been able to shrug this article off to media ignorance about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, were it not for continued references throughout the article to mental illness. Purdum uses words, either his own or those of whom he chose to quote for this article,to describe Gov. Palin like "erratic" and "whack job."

One of the subheadingsofhis article: "Polar Disorder."

He also writes, "Several [people] told me, independently of one another, that they had consulted the definition of 'narcissistic personality disorder' in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—'a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy'—and thought it fit her perfectly."

Another quote: "It’s frustrating dealing with Sarah, because it seems we’re always dealing with emotional crap."

Emotional. Erratic. Mentally ill.Purdum wants us to believePalin has bipolar disorder, postpartum depression and narcississtic personality disorder, all wrapped up into one. I wonder why he didn't also figure out a way toget schizophrenia in there, and perhaps throw in kleptomania and anorexia for kicks.

Does Purdum think his constant references tomental illnesses will help to convince us all of what an awful person Sarah Palin is? That she is not to be trusted?IsVanity Fairtrying to tell uswhat a terrible political candidatePalin would be because she has a mental illness, which as far as anyone knows, she doesn't? Does the simple fact of having mental illness disqualify someone outright,whether Democrat or Republican,for public office?

Now other journalists are weighing in as well. From Andrew Sullivan at The Atlantic, who is at least kind enough totell ushe doesn't think Palin had PPD:

"I recall speaking to a very eminent physician in the campaign – among several leading obstetricians who found her pregnancy story highly implausible – who immediately noted that in his view, Palin was clinically delusional, narcissistic and unstable."

I'm so pleased that all ofthese journalists have received clinical psychiatric training and are qualified to diagnose whether people have a mental illness and if so which one. Wait. They aren't? Are you SURE?!

I just do not like it when people bandy about mental illness to make a political point, regardless of their political persuasion. I have to wonder whether these writers have received any sensitivity training whatsoever when it comes to understanding and writing about mental illness. It seems it'smore important to make your point by labeling and inference, rather than simply by talking about facts.

Despite my complete lack of psychiatric training, I feel very confident in givingPurdum and his editors at Vanity Fairthis diagnosis: They are abunch of idiots.