Citation

Joshi KG, Frierson RL, Gunter TD. J. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law 2006; 34(4): 511-517.

Affiliation

Forensic Psychiatry Services, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Publisher American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17185481

Abstract

We present a case of shared psychotic disorder involving three sisters who were successful in establishing an insanity defense on numerous felony charges in the South Carolina criminal court system. Two of the authors of this article were court-appointed examiners in this case. We then present a history of shared psychotic disorder, an overview of the use of this diagnosis in the defense of insanity, and a discussion of the disposition of individuals with "temporary insanity." Finally, we compare shared psychotic disorder, culturally based belief systems, and religious cults, with a focus on their common and contrasting characteristics.

Language: en