Argosy University

Forensic Mental Health Professional Individual Assessment Report

Course FP600
Name: Mr. H. Identification Number: XC12345 Date of Birth: Ari! 2"# 1$$%
&e't' Date: &ime (ent:
Inter)ie* Date: &ime (ent:
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
Reason for Referral
Mr. H ha' been referred b+ hi' attorne+# Mr. ,# for a '+cho!o-ica! e)a!uation 'o that I ma+ offer
an oinion# if o''ib!e# re-ardin- the defendant.' 'tate of mind at the time of the 'hootin-. In
accordance *ith that re/ue't# I met *ith Mr. H t*ice a month for the a't 'i0 month'. I 'ent
aro0imate!+ 3 hour' *ith him each )i'it. I conducted te!ehonic e)a!uation' *ith Mr. H.'
mother and t*o +oun-er 'ib!in-' a' *e!! a' re)ie*ed a't medica! record' and an+ ertinent
!e-a! document'.
Mr. , reorted that Mr. H ha' be-un e0eriencin- auditor+ ha!!ucination'. In addition# Mr. H.
c!aim' to ha)e 'hot and 1i!!ed hi' nei-hbor becau'e 2the )oice of the 3od of hi' 4ni)er'e2 to!d
him to and *a' recent!+ char-ed *ith 'econd5de-ree murder. 6e'u!t' of thi' e)a!uation are
e0ected to aid in c!arif+in- hi' current emotiona! and beha)iora! functionin- a' *e!! a'
determine the re'ence of a '+chotic di'order.
Mr. H ha' had one rior incident aro0imate!+ one +ear a-o of 2hearin- thin-'#2 but di'mi''ed
it a' bein- hi' o*n )oice and 'tate' that he ha' not had that haen 'ince. &here i' no record of
an+ rior menta! i!!ne''. He !i)e' a!one and i' a recent co!!e-e -raduate. He i' current!+
unem!o+ed and i' re!+in- on hi' mother for financia! 'uort unti! he find' *or1.
It i' a!!e-ed that on the ni-ht of the murder# Mr. H *a' in'tructed b+ 2the 3od of hi' uni)er'e to
e0terminate the noi'e that di'turbed the an-e!'.2 Mr. H then !oaded hi' rif!e and *ent u'tair' to
1i!! hi' nei-hbor. Mr. H 'tate' that he ha' confronted hi' nei-hbor' in the a't re-ardin- their
!oud mu'ic.
Presentation
Mr. H i' a 245+ear o!d Cauca'ian ma!e born on Ari! 2"# 1$$%. He i' 7.22 and *ei-h' 22%
ound'. Hi' hair i' uncombed and it 'eem' he ha' not recent!+ 'ha)ed. He i' cooerati)e and i'
ab!e to di'cu'' hi' a't de)e!oment *ith me. He 'tate' that he had a rather c!o'e re!ation'hi
*ith hi' mother# father and t*o +oun-er 'ib!in-'# one brother and one 'i'ter. He c!aim' that hi'
chi!dhood *a' re!ati)e!+ une)entfu!. Mr. H to!d me that hi' father a''ed a*a+ t*o +ear' a-o in
a tra-ic car accident. He de'cribed him'e!f a' fee!in- -ui!t+ for mo)in- out of the fami!+ home#
but *anted to be indeendent and be-in hi' career.
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Individual Assessment
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Durin- the inter)ie*# Mr. H re'ented a' a 'ome*hat dere''ed indi)idua!. He re'ented *ith
no ho'ti!it+ or irrationa! thou-ht' and *a' in no acute di'tre''. Hi' mood and affect are
aroriate. He maintained a fair amount of e+e contact# but had troub!e focu'in- and 'ta+in- on
ta'1. He 'ho*ed '+chomotor a-itation# fid-etin- con'tant!+. He reorted an increa'e in
irritabi!it+. 8hen a'1ed about hi' fami!+ !ife and chi!dhood he 'tated that it *a' une)entfu!# but
did not e!aborate. He 'tate' that he i' current!+ re'cribed 6i'erda! and Amitrit+!ine b+ Dr.
(mith and i' recei)in- coun'e!in- 'er)ice' throu-h the ri'on. He to!d me that he 'ee' a
coun'e!or once a *ee1 and meet' once a *ee1 for -rou thera+ a' *e!!. He reort' ha)in- a
oor aetite and e0eriencin- in'omnia. He denied hearin- an+ )oice' at the current time and
'ince the 'hootin-.
8hen a'1ed about the current char-e' a-ain't him# Mr. H under'tood the char-e' a-ain't him
and 1ne* that he *a' in the 9r!ean' :ari'h :ri'on# but *a' unc!ear a' to *h+. He 'tate' that he
fee!' ;u'tified in hi' action' becau'e he had re)iou'!+ re/ue'ted the mu'ic be turned do*n on
'e)era! occa'ion'. Mr. H c!aim' to ha)e heard )oice' aro0imate!+ one +ear a-o a' he *a'
dri)in- to the -rocer+ 'tore# but di'mi''ed them a' he *a' ta!1in- to him'e!f. He 'tate' that he
2!et it -o2 and *a' not ho'ita!i<ed and did not recei)e an+ menta! hea!th 'er)ice' for it. 8hen
a'1ed about the e)ent' !eadin- u to the 'hootin-# Mr. H 'tate' that he heard the )oice in hi' head
te!!in- him to 2 e0terminate the noi'e that di'turbed the an-e!'.2 He 'tate' that he then !oaded hi'
rif!e and *ent u'tair' and 'hot hi' nei-hbor. He 'tate' that at the time of the 'hootin- he *a'
doin- *hat the )oice to!d him to do and fe!t ;u'tified becau'e of hi' rior attemt' at a'1in- the
nei-hbor' to turn their mu'ic do*n# *ith no a)ai!. Mr. H 'tate' that he fee!' 'ome remor'e# but it
'eem' that i' on!+ becau'e of the inf!uence of hi' fami!+ and attorne+.
He ha' no rior crimina! hi'tor+.
Did Mr. H 1no* *hat he *a' doin- *a' *ron- at the time of the 'hootin- and *a' he ab!e to
areciate the *ron-fu!ne'' of hi' act'=
I' he 'ufferin- from a menta! i!!ne''=
&he >oui'iana 'tandard for determinin- Not 3ui!t+ b+ 6ea'on of In'anit+ ?N36I@ i' the
M.Nau-hten ru!e *here the burden of roof i' on the defendant.
Current Life Situation
Mr. H to!d me that he current!+ !i)e' a!one. He i' unem!o+ed and re!ie' on hi' mother for
financia! 'uort. He ha' a o'iti)e re!ation'hi *ith hi' mother and t*o +oun-er 'ib!in-'. He
had a -ood re!ation'hi *ith hi' father unti! hi' tra-ic death t*o +ear' a-o. Mr. H recent!+
-raduated co!!e-e and 'tate' that he Afee!'B -ui!t+ for !ea)in- home# but he *anted to be
indeendent and on hi' o*n. Bet*een hi' fatherC' death and hi' unem!o+ment Mr. H ha' been
under a tremendou' amount of 'tre'' and re'on'ibi!it+.
Mr. H ha' been char-ed *ith 'econd5de-ree murder for a!!e-ed!+ 'hootin- and 1i!!in- hi'
nei-hbor. He 'tate' that at the time of the offen'e# the A3od of hi' uni)er'eB to!d him to
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Individual Assessment
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Ae0terminate the noi'e that di'turbed the an-!e'.2 &hi' Anoi'eB *a' the mu'ic that the nei-hbor
*a' !a+in- in *hich Mr. H 'a+' he had a'1 him to turn do*n on numerou' re)iou' occa'ion'.
Background Information
Mr. H i' the 'on of Mr. D and Mr'. 3. He i' one of three chi!dren. He *a' born in Ne* 9r!ean'#
>oui'iana in 1$$% *here he ha' !i)ed 'ince. He de'cribed him'e!f a' a -ood 'tudent# -raduatin-
co!!e-e a fe* month' rior to thi' e)a!uation. He denied an+ beha)iora! or di'ci!inar+ rob!em'
*hi!e in 'choo!. Hi' fami!+ confirm' that he e0hibited no unu'ua! or mar1ed rob!em' in hi'
chi!dhood or ado!e'cent +ear'. After -raduatin- hi-h 'choo!# Mr. H he!d 'e)era! art time ;ob'#
mo't!+ in the fa't food indu'tr+. Durin- co!!e-e# he a-ain *or1ed art time# !i)in- at home *ith
hi' arent'. He ha' 'ince -raduated co!!e-e and i' current!+ unem!o+ed. He 'tate' that he i' not
in)o!)ed in a re!ation'hi and doe' not ha)e much of a 'ocia! !ife. Mr. H 'tated that he mo't!+
'ta+' at home and *atche' te!e)i'ion a!one.
Mr. H 'a+' that aro0imate!+ one +ear a-o he heard a )oice *hi!e he *a' dri)in- to the -rocer+
'tore. He to!d me that he thou-ht it *a' ;u't hi' )oice ta!1in- to him'e!f# 'o he aid it no mind.
He 'tate' that he 2!et it -o2 and ne)er to!d an+one about it. Hi' mother and +oun-er 'ib!in-' 'tate
that he had be-un to e0erience 'ome de-ree of menta! i!!ne''# o''ib!+ dere''ion. Hi' mother
'tated that 'ince hi' father a''ed# Mr. H ha' been *ithdra*n and 'ad. He 'toed ca!!in- and
)i'itin-. Mr'. 3 'tated that before the death of hi' father# Mr. H *ou!d ca!! and )i'it *ith hi'
'i'ter and brother# but ha' not done 'o 'ince the accident. He ha' been unem!o+ed and doe'n.t
'eem to !ea)e hi' hou'e other than for -rocerie'. &here i' no fami!+ hi'tor+ of menta! i!!ne''.
Medical History

Accordin- to the medica! record' obtained# Mr. H ha' had no rior 'ur-erie' or menta! hea!th
care.
He *a' e0amined fo!!o*in- hi' arre't in ,u!+ 2%14 b+ (am (mith# M.D. Dr. (mith fe!t that Mr.
H 'uffered from dere''ion a' *e!! a' a o''ib!e '+chotic di'order. At the time of hi' admi''ion
to Medica! Center of >oui'iana# Ne* 9r!ean'# Mr. H *a' de'cribed a' 2confu'ed and irate. He
1et 'tatin- that he didn.t under'tand *h+ he *a' bein- arehended. He 'aid that the .3od of
hi' 4ni)er'e2 to!d him to . e0terminate the noi'e that di'turbed the an-e!'..2 He ha' no in'i-ht to
hi' medica! condition. He *a' -i)en 6i'erda! and Amitrit+!ine and 'eemed to re'ond *e!! to
the'e medication'.
It i' imortant to note that rior to thi' incident# Mr. H had ne)er been dia-no'ed *ith a menta!
i!!ne''# recei)ed no menta! hea!th 'er)ice' and ha' no crimina! hi'tor+. He did# ho*e)er# be-in
e0eriencin- '+mtom' of dere''ion and di'continued er'ona! re!ation'hi' in hi' fami!+ and
'ocia! !ife.
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Individual Assessment
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Obecti!e "esting
&e't' admini'tered
&he Minne'ota Mu!tiha'ic :er'ona!it+ In)entor+# 'econd edition ?MM:I52@ *a' -i)en to Mr. H
to e)a!uate hi' er'ona!it+ trait' and determine if there are an+ under!+in- '+cho!o-ica!
i!!ne''e'. &he MM:I52 i' a 'e!f5admini'tered er'ona!it+ in)entor+ de'i-ned to e)a!uate
er'ona!it+ trait' and '+mtom' of '+cho!o-ica! i!!ne''e' and er'ona! ma!adati)e ad;u'tment.
&he 8ech'!er Adu!t Inte!!i-ence (ca!e5IE ?8AI(5IE@ *a' a!'o admini'tered in an aroriate
en)ironment. &he 8AI(5IE i' a mea'ure u'ed to determine inte!!i-ence /uotient' and memor+.
It i' a!'o u'ed to ro)ide information re-ardin- co-niti)e and memor+ deficit' and brain dama-e
a' *e!! a' detectin- ma!in-erin- and decetion. &he Ma!in-erin- :robabi!it+ (ca!e' ?M:(@ *a'
admini'tered to Mr. H to aid in the di'c!o'ure of an+ ma!in-erin- or incon'i'tencie' in the c!aim'
of him ha)in- a menta! i!!ne''.
Dindin-'
&he Ma!in-erin- :robabi!it+ (ca!e 'ho*ed no 'i-n' of ma!in-erin-. Dr. (mith erformed the
WAIS-IV, *hich Mr. H obtained a fu!! 'ca!e IF 'core of $". &hi' i' -enera!!+ con'idered a)era-e.
&he te't re'u!t' are !i'ted be!o*:
Subcategory Results
Eerba! Comrehen'ion A)era-e
:ercetua! 6ea'onin- >o*
8or1in- Memor+ >o*
:roce''in- (eed A)era-e
Dr. (mith ro)ided an A0i' I dia-no'i' of Ma;or Dere''i)e Di'order# 'e)ere *ith '+chotic
feature'. He a!'o ro)ided a 3!oba! A''e''ment Dunctionin- 'core of 41.
Mr. H *a' found to ha)e a 'i-nificant e!e)ation on (ca!e " of the MM:I52. Indi)idua!' *ith
'imi!ar e!e)ation' are de'cribed a' eccentric# confu'ed and *ithdra*n# o)er!+ in)e'ted in fanta'+
and are !i1e!+ to ha)e a 'eriou' thou-ht di'order. &he'e te't de'crition' are con'i'tent *ith Mr.
H.' hi'tor+ and de'crition of recent beha)ior'. Dia-no'tic imre''ion' are a' fo!!o*':
#iagnostic Im$ressions
AXI( I: 2$7.34 Ma;or Dere''i)e Di'order# 'e)ere *ith '+chotic feature'# mood5
incon-ruent '+chotic feature'.
AXI( II: EG1.%$ No Dia-no'i'
AXI( III: None
AXI( IE: fatherC' deathH !i)e' a!oneH unem!o+edH di'cord *ith nei-hbor'H no incomeH
recent arre'tImurder char-e
AXI( E: 3AD 41 ?Current@
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Durin- our e)a!uation# Mr. H reorted that he ha' been e0eriencin- an increa'ed 'en'e of
irritabi!it+ and !ac1 of 'timu!ation to 2do an+thin-.2 He reort' a decrea'e of !ea'ure in
acti)itie' he once en;o+ed. He e0re''ed a 'en'e of -ui!t for !ea)in- the fami!+ home after the
death of hi' father. He reort' he i' ab!e to maintain dai!+ acti)itie' 'uch a' dre''in-# bathin- and
carin- for him'e!f.
Mr. H reort' hi' medication' are 6i'erda! and Amitrit+!ine. He reort' e0eriencin- no 'ide
effect' from the'e medication'.
Conclusion

Mr. H i' a 24 +ear o!d ma!e *ho i' facin- char-e' of 'econd de-ree murder. He i' 'in-!e and
!i)e' a!one. He i' current!+ unem!o+ed and i' a co!!e-e -raduate. He ha' no !earnin-
di'abi!itie' and i' of a)era-e inte!!i-ence. Mr. H admit' to hearin- )oice' on at !ea't one other
occa'ion. He c!aim' to ha)e been in'tructed b+ the'e )oice' to 1i!! hi' nei-hbor. He !oaded hi'
rif!e# *ent u'tair'# and 'hot and 1i!!ed hi' nei-hbor for !a+in- mu'ic !oud ni-ht after ni-ht.
Accordin- to the MM:I52# Mr. H i' 'ufferin- from 'chi<ohrenia and dere''ion. He ha' had an
increa'e in 'tre'' fo!!o*in- the death of hi' father# unem!o+ment and the -ui!t he fee!' for
mo)in- out of the fami!+ home. He reort' ha)in- no 'uort -rou in !ace rior to
incarceration. &here i' no rior crimina! hi'tor+.
4on hi' incarceration at 9r!ean' :ari'h :ri'on# he *a' found to be 'ufferin- from Ma;or
Dere''i)e Di'order *ith '+chotic feature'. &here i' no rior hi'tor+ of 'ub'tance abu'e. He
continue' to be monitored b+ Dr. (mith and continue' to ta1e 6i'erda! and Amitrit+!ine a'
directed.
At the time of the offen'e# it i' m+ oinion that Mr. H *a' under a '+chotic ei'ode brou-ht on
b+ hi' dere''ion. Hi' increa'e of irritabi!it+# combined *ith the 'en'e of di're'ect from hi'
nei-hbor continuin- to !a+ hi' mu'ic !oud after Mr. H had a'1ed him to !o*er it on numerou'
occa'ion'# !ed to a 2'+chotic brea12 and Mr. H 2'naed.2 It i' m+ be!ief that hi' intention'
*ere to 1i!! hi' nei-hbor# 'i!encin- the mu'ic. I do not fee! a' thou-h Mr. H under'tood# at the
time of the 'hootin-# that hi' action' *ere *ron- a' he fe!t ;u'tified. He *a' a!'o e0eriencin-
an auditor+ ha!!ucination at the time# *hich imaired hi' co-niti)e abi!itie'# therefore '1e*in-
hi' rationa! ;ud-ment and hi' abi!it+ to 1no* ri-ht from *ron-. It i' m+ oinion that Mr. H 1ne*
ri-ht from *ron- at the time of the 'hootin-# ho*e)er *a' unab!e to areciate the con'e/uence'
of hi' beha)ior. In re)ie*in- the te't re'u!t'# I a-ree *ith Dr. (mith.' dia-no'i'.
Recommendations
It i' recommended that Mr. H articiate in co-niti)e beha)iora! thera+. &reatment
'hou!d be focu'ed on di'tin-ui'hin- ri-ht from *ron- and rea!it+ from fiction. (trate-ie'
'hou!d identif+ and im!ement effecti)e coin- mea'ure' *hen he e0erience' auditor+
ha!!ucination'.
Mr. H 'hou!d be in con'i'tent '+chiatric care and an e)a!uation 'hou!d be conducted
e)er+ 'i0 month' to ro)ide an udate on hi' condition and to a!ter hi' medication
re-imen# if needed.
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Individual Assessment
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Jimber!+ C. 8eber %GI22I14
6eferra! Fue'tion'
Did Mr. H 1no* *hat he *a' doin- *a' *ron- at the time of the crime=
Doe' Mr. H 1no* that *hat he did *a' *ron-=
I' Mr. H ab!e to di'tin-ui'h bet*een ri-ht and *ron-=
8a' he dri)en b+ an irre'i'tib!e imu!'e to act=
Doe' Mr. H 'uffer from a menta! di'order that cou!d ha)e !ed him to murder hi'
nei-hbor=
8hat i' the rea'on for the referra!=
8hat i' the bac1-round of Mr. H= 8hat are the '+mtom' bein- di'!a+ed b+ Mr. H and
their 'i-nificance in thi' ca'e=
8hat 'tandard and acceted '+cho!o-ica! te't' mi-ht +ou a!+ to Mr. H in a foren'ic
'ettin-=
8hat *a' Mr. H.' menta! 'tatu' at the time of the crime=
Inter)ie* Fue'tion'
Mr. H# are +ou a*are of the char-e' brou-ht a-ain't +ou=
Do +ou remember *hat haened that ni-ht=
Do +ou reca!! *hat the A)oice'B 'aid to +ou=
Ho* often do +ou hear the'e )oice'=
Ha)e +ou heard the'e )oice' before=
Ho* man+ time'=
Do +ou under'tand ri-ht from *ron-=
Can +ou te!! me 'omethin- that *ou!d be con'idered a' A*ron-=B
Can +ou te!! me 'omethin- that *ou!d be con'idered a' Ari-ht=B
Ha)e +ou e0erienced an+ auditor+ ha!!ucination' 'ince the incident=
Ha)e the+ in'tructed +ou to do an+thin- before thi' incident=
After=
:rior to thi' incident# *ere +ou e0eriencin- '+mtom' of dere''ion=
8a' there an+ 'uicida! ideation=
An+ dru-Ia!coho! u'e=
8ere +ou under the inf!uence of an+ dru-' or a!coho! durin- the time of the murder=
8hat i' +our re!ation'hi !i1e *ith +our mother=
De'cribe +our chi!dhood.
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De'cribe +our current financia! 'ituation.
Do +ou ha)e an acti)e 'ocia! !ife=
Ha)e +ou e)er been dia-no'ed *ith a menta! i!!ne''=
Ha)e +ou e)er been treated b+ a menta! hea!th rofe''iona!=
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2013 Argosy University