Oscar suicide watch

Oscar Pistorius is at high risk of suicide if he does not continue to receive psychiatric treatment.

This was one of the findings listed in a detailed forensic report on Pistorius, who was ordered to undergo psychological evaluation in May.

Although the principal findings have been made public, Judge Thokozile Masipa, who is presiding over Pistorius's murder trial in the Pretoria High Court, yesterday banned the publication of details from Professor Jonathan Scholtz's report.

This means journalists must confine themselves to quoting only what was read from the report in court.

It is believed that Pistorius, upset about journalists tweeting about the report, told his lawyer, Kenny Oldwadge, to ask for the ban.

The ban did not extend to another report, compiled by three psychiatrists, which was written after Pistorius's evaluation.

This report noted that Pistorius had "an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood", which developed after the shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

But it was Scholtz's psychological report that gave a glimpse of the athlete's state of mind.

Pistorius's defence advocate, Barry Roux, read out the findings of the Scholtz report after prosecutor Gerrie Nel suggested that Pistorius's manager, Peet van Zyl, was lying to the court on behalf of the Olympian.

Scholtz found that Pistorius was at high risk of suicide, and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression following the death of Steenkamp, "whose loss he is mourning".

"He should continue to receive clinical care from a psychiatrist and psychologist, otherwise his condition is likely to worsen, with an increased risk of suicide."

Scholtz said there was no evidence to show that Pistorius had a history of explosive violence or other abnormal behaviour.

"Abnormal aggression and violence was [sic] never incorporated into his personality."

He found Pistorius did not suffer from generalised anxiety disorder and that he and Steenkamp were in a "normal and loving relationship".

"He doesn't display the characteristics of narcissism or psychopathy that are associated with men in abusive relationships, and [which] have been linked to rage-type murders in intimate relationships."

Scholtz found Pistorius's reactions to threatening situations were exaggerated in comparison to those of most people.

"When Pistorius's appraisal of a situation is that he might be physically threatened, a fear response follows that might seem extraordinary when viewed from the perspective of an able-bodied person."

Judge Masipa ordered that Pistorius undergo observation at Pretoria's Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital after psychiatrist Professor Merryll Vorster sai d her diagnosis was that he suffered from generalised anxiety disorder .

This, Vorster said, might have affected his actions on the night Steenkamp was killed.

The defence's final witness, Professor Wayne Derman, Pistorius's sports doctor, gave an insight into the world of the disabled.

He said people with disabilities were at greater risk of being attacked and were often subjected to arbitrary violence.

"They are not necessarily more vulnerable but are more of a target because of the circumstances in which they find themselves, not because of their disability.

"The flight-or-fight response, a primitive reflex, is often exaggerated in people with disabilities.

"Pistorius had an excessively startled response to fireworks, covering his ears and cowering until the noises ended ... he scans rooms for potential danger whether in large groups or not."

What TimesLive readers say

Facebook views on Oscar Pistorius being a suicide risk:

Rina Kersten - "More like his waiting jail cell than Reeva's death causing PTSD."

Moses Oageng - "I guess if we accept #Oscar excuses, then all murderers in jail are depressed and suffering GAD #LOL"

L'm Patie Ndlovu Ndlovu - "He made his bed . he must lie on it! Let him phone Lifeline!"

Melissa Schoeman - "I pray he will walk out a free man."

Shoni Venda-boy Ramavhoya - "Nonsense. First he screams like a woman 2. He gets sent to mental evaluation. And now this."

Steve Annesley Austen - "So who is the victim here then? Reeva or this oke?"