Breivik has Tourette’s: expert
Oslo -
A Norwegian psychiatrist proposed
another diagnosis for gunman Anders Behring Breivik on Friday, adding to
the confusion over the extremist's mental state after two teams reached
contradictory opinions.
Ulrik Fredrik Malt, a psychiatry
professor at the University of Oslo, said the 33-year-old Breivik was
suffering from Asperger's syndrome, Tourette's syndrome and narcissistic
personality disorder, but was likely not psychotic.
The question of Breivik's sanity
is key to his ongoing trial. Though judges are certain to find him
guilty, they must decide if he was criminally sane or not.
Their decision would affect whether he gets mental treatment in a secure psychiatric facility.
Asperger's is a developmental
disorder on the autistic spectrum that often is characterised by a lack
of empathy. Tourette's is a neurological disorder marked by tics and
verbal outbursts.
Malt said Tourette's could explain why Breivik has frequently smiled inappropriately throughout the trial.
The psychiatrist left open the
possibility that Breivik was suffering from paranoid psychosis but said
the chances of such a condition were less than 25 percent.
Breivik, who admitted killing 77
people in a July 22 bomb attack and shooting rampage, wants to prove
his sanity because he thinks more people would give credence to his
extremist ideology - described as a crusade against multiculturalism and
a pending “Muslim invasion” of Norway and Europe.
Malt's opinion goes against two evaluations carried out by two other psychiatric teams.
The first found Breivik to be
psychotic and suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, whereas a second
opinion found no sign of psychosis but did declare Breivik to be asocial
and narcissistic.
Malt's opinion is based on his
observations of Breivik during his trial, which started April 16, but he
has not interviewed the defendant.
Although
Malt's opinion would appear to have been along the lines of what
Breivik is trying to prove in court, the defendant lashed out against
the diagnosis.
“I want to congratulate Malt for a very good demolition of my personality,” he said.
If he is found sane, he faces a
21-year jail term which could be extended indefinitely if he is still
considered a threat to society. If he is found insane he could receive
closed psychiatric care, possibly for life. -Source: http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/breivik-has-tourette-s-expert-1.1315266#.T9JygZhadJc
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