The literary fascination with the troubled and tumultuous lives and minds of secret agents stems back 70 years to the introduction of James Bond in Casino Royale. Contemporary approaches need to…
The human fascination with fire is thousands of years old. Fire is the great paradox: it provides warmth, energy and protection but also terror and destruction. What does a forensic psychiatrist think…
Acts of violence seem to be everywhere. We are bombarded by images and stories of violence on TV, in the media, on our socials and even in our own lives. How does a forensic psychiatrist approach the…
Over almost 50 years, the David Berkowitz case remains a controversial chapter in the history of New York City and forensic psychiatry. So, just who was the "Son of Sam" and what drove him to kill 6…
Malignant narcissism in the extreme can lead to shocking violence and crimes, even murder. But what can drive that and how does it occur? Does the narcissistic murderer qualify for a mental impairment…
Terry Gilliam's intriguing 1995 film, 12 Monkeys, taps into the confusing, subjective paradox of human experience. Pandemics are nothing new, but how do we actually decide which "infected" information…
Why has the term 'narcissist' become so common? What does it even mean and how do they gaslight? In the opening of this 2-parter, let's chat about self-love, Greek myths, infants, mirrors and how we…
Stalking is an old problem with a new focus as law makers and clinicians have increasingly understood and acknowledged the serious psychological harm that it does to so many victims. Let's take a walk…
Our moods are at the core of our lives and our human existence. But what happens when our feelings and emotions go to the extreme? When the depression and mania of bipolar disorder take hold, what can…
Set in the midst of the anti-psychiatry movement, the stunning One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a striking portrayal of the varying drives for individual, institutional and social coercion and…
