PSYCHIATRIC STUDY OF A MASS MURDERER
JAMES A. V. GALVIN M. D.1, and
JOHN M. MACDONALD M. D.2
1 Medical Director, Colorado Psychopathic Hospital, Denver, Colo.
2 Assistant Medical Director, Colorado Psychopathic Hospital, Denver, Colo.
Careful examination including review of the psychological test data failed in our opinion to reveal evidence of psychosis. The diagnosis of sociopathic personality was based upon the history of poor social adjustment, intolerance of frustration and discipline, antisocial behavior, nomadism, poor work record, egocentricity and lack of judgment together with the findings upon examination.
His statement that he had faked insanity on his second admission to hospital and the absence of amnesia for this episode do not exclude a diagnosis of Ganser syndrome. It was our opinion, however, that the symptoms were consciously determined. On his first admission, limited attempts at simulation were seen in his responses on the projective tests and also in his claim of previous electroshock therapy. Due to lack of space, this report does not include all the findings of our examinations during the 44 days the patient was in hospital The psychological tests will be reported later in a psychological journal.
