Report reveals more into Jared Loughner's mental state

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Posted 9:11 PM 8/9/2012 : New report shows Loughner's mental state

TUCSON - A new report revealing details behind January 8th shooter, Jared Loughner's mental state in the last year and a half since the tragedy. The 11 page report was submitted by Dr. Christina Pietz, the psychologist who evaluated and treated Jared Loughner during his time at a Missouri federal prison.

The report describes vivid details of Loughner's mental state of January 8th. According to the report, "On February 2, 2012, Mr. Loughner began attending a competency restoration group. By April 24, 2012 he had attended nine sessions."

"During the sixth session, he told the group leader that defendants often accept plea arrangements to receive a less severe penalty."

Dr. Pietz wrote, "He indicated a desire for a favorable outcome but acknowledged he would most likely be sentenced to life in prison."

Until January of this year, Dr.Pietz wrote, Loughner still believed that he had killed Gifford's. And when he finally admitted that she was alive, he was disappointed. When pietz questioned him about what disappointed him he answered,

"I failed. I'm not an assassin. That I ruined my life for nothing. I think differently now. (...) It's another failure if she's alive. Jared loughner failed again. He's a failure. So all of this would be for nothing."

Joel Dvoskin is a forensic psychologist who was in the courtroom on Tuesday. He heard Dr. Pietz's hour long testimony, and now has read her report.

"Dr. Pietz did a really good job of being empathetic without being excusing of what he did," he said. "But still trying to do a good job of understanding his psychology his feelings and his thinking what it's like to be him in this moment in time."

The report also says Loughner considered ten seconds of the Safeway shooting footage as a fake.

Loughner is back in Missouri continuing his treatment. He will return to Tucson on November 15, for sentencting.

Posted 3:41 PM 8/9/2012 : Loughner: '...I ruined my life for nothing.'

TUCSON - A forensic report detailing Jared Loughner's many mental health evaluations reveals that when he wasn't holding to the belief that Gabrielle Giffords was dead, he saw himself as a failure for not assassinating her.

A detailed report by clinical psychologist Dr. Christina Pietz concluded that while Loughner suffers from Schizophrenia, with the help of court-ordered medication and group therapy sessions, his competency was restored to the point where he could understand the charges against him and the potential consequences.

Click here to view the complete report (.PDF)

The report stated that psychiatrist Dr. Robert Sarrazin prescribed a medication regimen that included 8 mg of risperidone, an antipsychotic, 450 mg of Buproprion, an antidepressant, and .5 mg of Clonazepam, an anti-anxiety medication.

During much of his time at the Missouri mental health facility where he has been held, Loughner made clear to the evaluating psychologist that he believed Gabrielle Giffords was dead. In July 2011, however, Loughner made comments suggesting he acknowledged she was alive, according to the forensics report.

On January 18, 2012, he talked openly about his disappointment that Giffords could be alive.

Dr. Pietz stated in the report: "When I asked what this meant, he stated, ‘That I failed. I'm not an assassin. That I ruined my life for nothing. I think differently now.' Later in the interview, he said, ‘It's another failure if she's alive. Jared Loughner failed again. He's a failure. So all of this would be for nothing.'"

Just days later, however, after seeing Giffords on television, Loughner told the psychologist: "I swear to you that's not the woman I shot. The woman I shot in the head died instantly. No one could survive that gunshot wound to the head."

The report states there have been times this year that he acknowledges that she is alive, however, recently, when asked about the status of Giffords, he simply states: "I don't want to talk to you about that."

Dr. Pietz stated that he still appears irritated, or even angry, when reminded that Giffords survived, and he bitterly contests how some of the videotape from the Safeway is different than his memory of the incident.

In spite of these inconsistencies, Dr. Pietz concluded there was enough evidence that Loughner possessed the capacity to understand the charges against him and their potential consequences.

Tune in to News 4 Tucson this evening for the full story on this latest forensic report.