Citation

Akimoto H. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 2006; 60(1): 3-8.

Affiliation

Tokyo University Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. haruaki@pop13.odn.ne.jp

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1440-1819.2006.01454.x

PMID

16472353

Abstract

This paper is a further discussion of the author's previous reports on the crimes committed by the Asahara-Aum Cult. First, the motivations of Asahara-Aum crimes, in particular those of murders, and their abnormality beyond the realm of criminology are ascertained. Second, psychopathology of the leader, Asahara, was considered, and it was assumed that Asahara was affected with the syndrome of pseudologia phantastica which was confirmed by his strange attitude during his trials. Third, the mental status of Asahara after the first trial was investigated, and some evidence was found that his mental status was so severe as to be 'unfit to plead' that psychiatric evaluation and treatment would be necessary. Fourth, the reasons for making people, in particular scientific elites, fascinated with Asahara and the Aum Cult were scrutinized and some clues were described. Finally, the problem that Aum has survived under the name of Aleph, how heavy capital punishment for Leader Asahara is appropriate, and that reparations for victims of Asahara-Aum crimes are urgent from the standpoint of social psychiatry, are discussed.

Language: en