Andrea Yates case: Doctor discusses medical angle

Editor's Note: As part of CNN.com's new Crime section, we are archiving some of the most interesting content from CourtTVNews.com. This story was first published in 2006.

(Court TV) -- Court TV talked with Dr. Joseph Deltito, professor of psychiatry from New York Medical College, who discussed the Andrea Yates case February 28, 2002, in an online chat.

Court TV Host: We're going to be discussing the very sad case of Andrea Yates that has attracted national attention. We're going to be talking to Dr. Joseph Deltito, professor of psychiatry from New York Medical College.

Court TV Host: Our guest, Dr. Joseph Deltito is here with is now. Welcome, Dr. Deltito

Dr. Joseph Deltito: Thank you. If any of you have any questions, let the games begin!

Court TV Host: One of our audience members asked the following question before we started and it is: if andrea yates is found not guilty and sent to a hospital, will she ever be eligible for release?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: The answer is: theoretically.

Dr. Joseph Deltito: The hospital is not punishment. When it is felt that she's safe to be released for her own well-being and any others she may come in contact with, she should theoretically be released. Practically, many people in these situations stay in hospitals for a long period of time because the people making those decisions are often hesitant to let someone out for fear if anything happens the blame will be revisited upon themselves.

Question from: Cita: Dr.Deltito having been on an antidepressant and gone off "cold turkey" -- not advised :-) I know, and mine was only Paxil-- my question is: considering the "heavy drugs" that Andrea was on, could that sudden withdrawal cause a spiral such as she had?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: Yes It is possible that she would've had a gentler course if whatever medicine she was on was either maintained or withdrawn more slowly.

Question from: ctv_warhorse2: Tell us the difference between post-partum depression & psychosis.

Dr. Joseph Deltito: Psychosis represents a severe deviation from reality. Psychosis may be part of many different psychiatric and drug-induced states Post-partum depression may or may not be so severe as to be complicated by psychosis.

Question from: zig: The defense has argued acute psychotic episode - does the prosecution contest that?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: I do not know if the prosecution has formally contested that she had a psychosis.

Question from: Lynn: How can you prove that someone is experiencing a psychotic episode right at the time ?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: There is no way to prove it other than observation and report on the part of the person. It certainly can be faked, but it does not seem to have been faked in this case.

Question from: keyo: Have you ever seen a case as severe as Ms. Yates?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: There are a lot of definitions of severity. If one of the definitions includes how many people does your psychosis lead you to kill, then she is one of the most severe by definition.

Question from: momlek: I was at the trial yesterday. Andrea never moved all day, except once scratch to her face. She was like a statue. Is that the drugs, or is she still catatonic?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: It's unclear, and it may very well relate to some of the medication she is taking.

Question from: li: how do you think her doctors could have done things differently to possibly avoid this outcome?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: It appears that she was let out of the hospital all too early.

Dr. Joseph Deltito: And she did not have sufficiently close observation during her out-patient period of time.

Question from: Cita: So do you think that the defense should have not gone with the post-partum defense-- it seems as if she has had a history of mental illness even before she had children.

Dr. Joseph Deltito: Yes, I think that it's irrelevant whether you want to call her depression post-partum or not. Obviously she has had a long-remitting psychiatric illness that goes beyond post-partum depression, plain and simple.

Question from: Diane: Are there any other instances that you know of where a mom killed her children due to postpartum depression?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: Yes, I've heard of many cases. An interesting statistic as to whether it's part of a mental illness or not: when you look at biological children killed by one of the parents, the ratio is about 7 to 1 that it will be done by a mother and not by a father. Interestingly there seems to almost be, I believe, a biological imperative that may keep fathers from killing their offspring.

Court TV Host: But many, many more fathers than mothers abandon their children and their entire families -- would that argue against a biological imperative?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: I think it may be easier for fathers in our society to abandon the family for socio-cultural and economic reasons. I am just speculating on the fact that a largely disproportionate number of offspring killings are done by mothers and not fathers.

Question from: SO: Doctor, do you believe Andrea should be found guilty or not guilty?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: I think she is definitely not guilty.

Question from: Lynn: Is she able to assist in her own defense?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: The courts have determined that they believe that she can assist in her own defense.

Question from: sharonka: If she were to get free again in the future, can the state prevent her from ever having another baby?

Dr. Joseph Deltito: I would say I don't know if the state has the power to order sterilization or not, especially if she's deemed to no longer be a threat.

Question from: zig: How many more "Andrea Yates" cases are out there waiting for tragedy to strike? Are there any warning signs for family/friends to look for??

Dr. Joseph Deltito: There are thousands of Andrea Yates cases waiting to happen, and people have to take it seriously when individuals complain of being severely depressed -- particularly if they've ever made any suicidal gestures.

Court TV Host: Thank you very much, Dr. Joseph Deltito, for joining us online today. E-mail to a friend