This video highlights the stigma that still exists in society. The first link is

Question

This video highlights the stigma that still exists in society. The first link is the article written about Zac. The youtube link shows the video. (Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=o0x1F7uFFQc )

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stigma-of-mental-illness-a-setback-for-patients-society/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

After watching the clip on Zach, google one of the following individuals. Learn about their life, their attempt at seeking treatment, and the event that has made them infamous. Describe their symptoms before and during the crime which would support a psychotic disorder; what intervention(s) could be put in place to prevent future tragedies and what would be an appropriate social/legal response to the crime understanding that they were in a psychotic state while the crime was committed.

Choose one of the following individuals:

Jared Loughner

James Holmes

Scott Panetti

Explanation / Answer

“Execution of mentally ill man serves no greater good” (Dallas Morning News Editorial, 2015)

                Scott Panetti , a paranoid schizophrenic had been sentenced to death for killing his in-laws in the presence of his separated wife and daughter. He had held his estranged wife and daughter captive for that night and released them only the next morning after the arrival of the police. Panetti, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 20. He was divorced from his first wife, who appeared as a witness in the court of law. She spoke of his delusions, hallucinations, and psychotic episodes while they were married. She even stated one incident during which he claimed that their house was possessed. As a solution he had buried furniture in their back yard, for he believed that it could ward off the devil. He was under medications (anti-psychotics) and had also been hospitalized several times. His estranged wife – whose parents he had killed had also supported the statement regarding his mental state as given by his first wife.

                Apart from such bizarre behavior in the presence of his immediate family members, his public behavior during his trials also showed signs of his psychopathology. These included dressing up like a cowboy and summoning the Pope, J.F. Kennedy and Jesus Christ as witnesses in one trial, talking about the death of his dog, and claiming that the killings were perpetrated by Sarge – his alter ego. In one of his later trials he even proclaimed to be the father of pop singer – Selena Gomez. In yet another trial he expressed concerns that he was being executed for spreading Christianity in the prison and appealed for an insanity defense by calling veterinarians to the stand rather than mental health professionals. He also believed that he was being watched and all his behavior was being tracked through a chip that had been inserted into his tooth.

                Time and again his incapacitated mental state had been laid bare before the court not by anyone but by Panetti himself. Yet, the court had decided to have him executed – as deterrence or perhaps as retribution. Unfortunately, the man about to be executed felt he was being punished for spreading the Gospel inside the prison and he was being avenged for bringing to light the mistreatment of the prison authorities. Notably, the prison authorities themselves had also reported his bizarre behavior which often appeared ‘scary and trance-like’. There was sufficient anecdotal evidence to have him reviewed for the competency of his mental state, which however had been denied to him, until a few hours before his execution when his lawyers were successful in having the court grant him funds for his assessment. His execution was withheld and he was given time to undergo a psychological evaluation and assessment to prove his ‘incompetence’.

                There had been several observable manifestations of his schizophrenia much before he had been convicted for murder. These included his delusions and hallucinations – which are positive symptoms of schizophrenia, he had also reportedly been robotic in terms of his motor movements, at times (which is a symptom of motor disturbance characteristic of schizophrenia). Most importantly, he had been hospitalized several times for his psychotic episodes, as stated by his first wife. He was also under anti-psychotics.

                His crime – the murder of his in-laws was during one of his psychotic episodes. Although definitely not an acceptable behavior, having him executed for a crime he committed during his psychotic state is also not a fair judgment. The narration in the first few paragraphs about his behavior after the crime also supports his diagnosis.

                Panetti’s story highlights the lack of support for victims of mental disorders in the legal system. Psychological evaluation and counseling by an in-house therapist after arrest, behavioral assessment during stay in the prison, thorough background check of the offender, summoning the psychiatrists/psychologists/psychiatric nurses who have had treated the offender before - as witnesses in his/her court case are some steps which could be incorporated if the offender is found to have a history of mental illness. For offenders who have previously not been reported as having a psychological condition which is debilitating and could be the reason behind their crime, a more thorough background check along with psychological evaluation by at least three independent experts should be done to rule out malingering or faking.

                Execution of an offender who committed a crime during a psychotic episode or under the influence of his undiagnosed mental condition does not serve the purpose of the capital punishment. The objective of the legal system under such circumstances should be restitution, rehabilitation and integration – of the offender. Despite several countries having abolished capital punishment for offenders who have been found to have a psychological disorder, it is unfortunate that other countries have failed to do the same.

                Moreover, psycho-educational sessions should be made a compulsory part of the curriculum for school children as a form of psychological inoculation. As a social reform, one and all should be encouraged to report any unusual behavior on the part of their neighbors or other acquaintances to social workers allotted to specific territories by the State. For being able to report such behavior psychosocial intervention programs in the community setting are necessary to make the adults aware of the behavioral manifestations of major psychological disorders. While the first intervention raises awareness among children, the second helps to do the same among adults.

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