Second opinion on insanity plea in a murder and attempted suicide case: A case report

• Main Authors: Md Rosli, Najwa Hanim, Yahya , Badi’ah, Abu Bakar , Abdul Kadir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2011
• Subjects: RA Public aspects of medicine; RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/35817/1/CaseReport.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/35817/; http://www.aseanjournalofpsychiatry.org/pdf/CaseReport.pdf
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Objective: This paper aims to discuss the issue related to the application of temporary insanity plea through a case report of a man who was earlier certified as mentally sound following a murder and suicide attempt. Methods: We report a man who committed murder and attempted suicide 7 years ago, had a psychiatric certification of not having mental illness and recently requested for a second psychiatric assessment. The factors taken into consideration in arriving at the final diagnosis are discussed. Results: The man was found to have brief psychotic disorder precipitated by psychological blow and sleep deprivation with underlying undiagnosed borderline mental retardation.Conclusion: In assessing patient with temporary insanity plea, various areas in the history need to be explored deeply with thorough investigations to be done in order to arrive at a fair conclusion for the patient’s and victim’s sake. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol.12(1): Jan – June 2011: 117-121 Keywords: Temporary insanity, mental retardation, sleeps deprivation, brief psychotic disorder, automatism