Within minutes of each other, both President Barack Obama and his challenger, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, were taken via ambulance to be admitted to the psychiatric ward of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. early Thursday morning.

Further adding to the coincidence of their simultaneous admittance, both men were taken in for the same reason: they were each suffering from early signs of dissociative identity disorder (also known as multiple personality disorder), a mental disorder that is characterized by having at least two distinct and durable sets of identities.

While none of the doctors at the hospital would comment officially, one of the workers agreed to speak to The Gabbler on the condition of anonymity.

“The both of them were really screwed up,” said the source. “Mr. Obama had spent so much time trying to roll his ‘R’s that his mouth was bleeding profusely and he’d developed scarring on his tongue. He refused to eat anything but rice and beans, and insisted that we refer to him as ‘Pedro.’ ”

According to the source, Romney was found unconscious on the steps of a nearby Jewish temple wearing only a yarmulke.

“He keeps quoting Woody Allen movies and referring to everyone as ‘schmucks’,” the source added.

As to the cause of their breakdowns, many psychiatric experts believe that a high degree of pandering can contribute to the deterioration of one’s identity, leading to a personal meltdown and a confusion of core values and interests.

“We see this more often then you’d think,” said the source. “It is election year, after all. But I’ll tell you this: it’s not easy lying to everyone about your real beliefs just to earn a few extra votes and some fast cash. Pretty soon, you lose sight of who you really are and what you stand for.  That can take a real toll on a person’s mental health.”

Both Obama and Romney’s offices are expected to release statements shortly. Their release dates have not yet been determined.