Fmr. Navy Psychologist: Bergdahl May Have Had 'Messiah Complex'

Former Navy psychologist Dr. Paul Ragan told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he believes it is possible that Bowe Bergdahl may have left his base because he had a “messiah complex” that made him think he would broker a peace deal with the Taliban. Dr. Ragan recalled the story of a soldier around Bergdahl’s age that he examined who deserted his post in Japan to fly to Pakistan in an attempt to “unite the Afghan rebels in their fight against the Russians.”

Dr. Ragan stated that he believes Bergdahl “certainly” could have had a messiah complex, and that his attempt to seek out the Taliban is consistent with the behavior of someone who had a grandiose delusion. He stated “somebody who had a lot of thoughts about joining the army and thought that he maybe was being called to a higher power, for him to leave and look for somebody certainly is someone who may have had a messiah complex.”