Oscar’s psych tests include friends, family
Ex-girlfriends, family and Oscar Pistorius's coach could be interviewed by psychologists to establish the athlete's mental stability.
A group of young South Africans hip-hop artists perform outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria while the trial of South African Paralympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius is ongoing on May 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ MUJAHID SAFODIEN
Pistorius has been ordered to be sent for evaluation at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital by the North Gauteng High Court to establish whether he has general anxiety disorder (GAD).
Forensic psychologist Ivan de Klerk said people in Oscar’s life could be questioned to better understand his actions and behaviour. “He would be evaluated by a team of between four to six psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers He would be observed for between four to eight hours by each of them,” he said.
De Klerk said he has never heard of someone being ordered to undergo observation for GAD.
One way in which Pistorius would be evaluated was by showing him different images, which he would need to interpret. This would give psychologists and psychiatrists an idea of how he saw his basic surroundings, he said.
Dr Giada del Fabbro, another forensic psychologist, said the evaluation would include psychometric tests and assessment tools, which would look at diagnosing anxiety and test for faking.
De Klerk said “faking it” was ill advised. “He could end up a State patient and only be released once they deem him cured,” he said.
Pistorius will be evaluated for 30 days.
