“Breivik could be released after seven years”

Anders Behring Breivik could be a free man after only seven years if he placed in a mental institution, says a former chief physician at the hospital where the defendant is most likely to be placed.

The court psychiatrists that have been working on the report on Breivik’s mental state have concluded that the defendant is insane, and suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Because of his diagnosis Breivik cannot be sent to prison, but will rather be confined to a secure section of a mental institution.
Thor Kvakkestad is a specialist in psychiatry, and a former chief physician at Dikemark hospital in Oslo, which is where Breivik will most likely be placed. He predicts that the defendant will be able to move around freely and live in his own residence within five to seven years if he declared insane.
“My experience with patients that are psychopathic or schizophrenic is that they can be integrated back into society within five to seven years, while still being monitored by their clinic,” Kvakkestad tells NRK.
He says it is very unusual that patients who suffer from mental disorders are confined for the rest of their lives. In many cases, even under forced care, the patient may live at home for weeks at a time before they have to report to the hospital.
“A patient that is cooperative, has a positive reaction to the medication and is relatively free of symptoms has the right to attempt a life back in society,” says Kvakkestad. “The goal of psychiatry is not to punish, but to heal the patient so that he can function around other people.”
Director of Court Administration, Tor Langbach, thinks it might be necessary to go through the legislation and consider whether psychotic persons should be held accountable for their actions.
“What I am especially referring to is whether a sentence of confined mental care reflects the severity of the crime in a positive way,” Langbach tells NRK.
Although Kvakkestad does not believe that Breivik will be confined to a mental institution for the rest of his life, he does emphasize that this is an extraordinary case. “It will probably be monitored more closely, and the people responsible will pay close attention to prevent routine failure,” he says.
(NRK)
Julie Ryland

Thursday, 01 December 2011 08:32