Psychiatrists Declare Norwegian Mass Murderer Psychotic

On July 22 Anders Breivik set off bombs in buildings in downtown Oslo, Norway, and then went to a youth camp outside the city where he went on a shooting rampage. In all, 77 people died that day, most of them young campers. Earlier today, psychiatrists evaluating Breivik's mental state at the request of an Oslo court concluded that he was psychotic at the time of the massacre and should be sent to a psychiatric hospital rather than to prison. The report by the two evaluating psychiatrists will now be reviewed by a panel of forensic psychiatrists before the court rules on whether Breivik, who has admitted the killings, will be put on trial, the Associated Press reported.

Immediately after the massacre, Norwegian psychiatrists and other mental health professionals responded as part of emergency teams and in emergency departments. To read an interview with the president of the Norwegian Psychiatric Association and more about the mental health response to the tragedy, see Psychiatric News.

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