In testimony on the thirtieth day of the Blade Runner's murder trial, Vorster told the court that the roots of his anxiety probably lay in the amputation of his legs at a young age.
Oscar Pistorius suffers from a "general anxiety disorder", according to forensic psychiatrist Professor Merryl Vorster.
In testimony on the thirtieth day of the Blade Runner's murder trial, Vorster told the court that the roots of his anxiety probably lay in the amputation of his legs at a young age.
This anxiety was compounded by the divorce of his parents, as well as by his mother's death when the Paralympian was 15-years-old.
After this, Pistorius's anxiety increased as his athletics career began to take off and he came under increased pressure and gained more exposure in the media.
Vorster told the high court in Pretoria that Pistorius was ashamed of his disability and the heightened sense of vulnerability he felt when not on his prosthetic legs.
She also testified that the athlete had an acute anxiety about crime and was hyper-vigilant. She believed that his increased public profile made him more susceptible to burglary.
Because of this, Vorster said, the security measures Pistorius had put in place in his Silver Woods Estate home in Pretoria were out of proportion to those of general South African society.
Vorster also told the court that during her consultation with Pistorius in the months following the shooting, his emotional responses, crying and retching had been, in her opinion, genuine. She added that Pistorius had repeatedly expressed guilt for killing Reeva Steenkamp.
Vorster believed Pistorius's anxiety disorder would have contributed to the way he responded to what he had thought were the noises of an intruder entering his bathroom in the early hours of February 14 last year.
She said that because of his anxiety and feelings of vulnerability, Pistorius would be more inclined to react to threatening situations with a fight, rather than flight, response.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Vorster said her diagnosis of Pistorius's disorder would not mean that during the shooting Pistorius would have been unable to distinguish between right and wrong, but it might have lead to diminished responsibility for his actions.
Nel was granted an early lunch adjournment to consult with his team.
Vorster's cross-examination will continue shortly.
Oscar Pistorius suffers from 'general anxiety disorder'
In testimony on the thirtieth day of the Blade Runner's murder trial, Vorster told the court that the roots of his anxiety probably lay in the amputation of his legs at a young age.
Oscar Pistorius suffers from a "general anxiety disorder", according to forensic psychiatrist Professor Merryl Vorster.
In testimony on the thirtieth day of the Blade Runner's murder trial, Vorster told the court that the roots of his anxiety probably lay in the amputation of his legs at a young age.
This anxiety was compounded by the divorce of his parents, as well as by his mother's death when the Paralympian was 15-years-old.
After this, Pistorius's anxiety increased as his athletics career began to take off and he came under increased pressure and gained more exposure in the media.
Vorster told the high court in Pretoria that Pistorius was ashamed of his disability and the heightened sense of vulnerability he felt when not on his prosthetic legs.
She also testified that the athlete had an acute anxiety about crime and was hyper-vigilant. She believed that his increased public profile made him more susceptible to burglary.
Because of this, Vorster said, the security measures Pistorius had put in place in his Silver Woods Estate home in Pretoria were out of proportion to those of general South African society.
Vorster also told the court that during her consultation with Pistorius in the months following the shooting, his emotional responses, crying and retching had been, in her opinion, genuine. She added that Pistorius had repeatedly expressed guilt for killing Reeva Steenkamp.
Vorster believed Pistorius's anxiety disorder would have contributed to the way he responded to what he had thought were the noises of an intruder entering his bathroom in the early hours of February 14 last year.
She said that because of his anxiety and feelings of vulnerability, Pistorius would be more inclined to react to threatening situations with a fight, rather than flight, response.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Vorster said her diagnosis of Pistorius's disorder would not mean that during the shooting Pistorius would have been unable to distinguish between right and wrong, but it might have lead to diminished responsibility for his actions.
Nel was granted an early lunch adjournment to consult with his team.
Vorster's cross-examination will continue shortly.
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