There is no doubt that Thijs H. (28) was psychotic when he stabbed three people to death last year, according to experts at the Pieter Baan Center. They argue that he was not properly helped by the mental health system in the run-up to the murders.

Mondriaan, where the Brunssum twentysomething was in treatment, focused on autistic disorder and ADHD. The psychoses were not targeted.

Red flag
This was told by the psychiatrist from the Pieter Baan Center (PBC), who was in court Tuesday to explain the report on Thijs. Because the focus within Mondriaan was on other problems, the psychotic disorder disappeared from the picture. "The red flag seems to have faded into the background," he said.

Booster psychosis
According to the psychiatrist, symptoms of psychosis were indeed recognized, but explained differently. On Mondriaan's advice, Thijs stopped taking anti-psychotic medication and switched to medication for ADHD. These medications, dexamphetamines, are a "driver of psychosis," according to the PBC psychiatrist.

Very unwise
The PBC psychiatrist feels that Thijs should have been tightly monitored around this medication change. That would not have happened either. "That is very unwise," he told reporters Tuesday. The PBC stands by its recommendation that Thijs be declared completely insanity-prone. That means he cannot be criminally prosecuted, but will receive a tbs measure.

Hundreds of reports
Involved PBC psychologist and psychiatrist together wrote about five hundred reports and worked with a team on this case. Thijs was observed in the PBC for seven weeks and an extensive environmental investigation was done.

Thijs's drug use has also been scrutinized. "But the information I have I can't describe as excessive drug use. In our report, I find no signs of substantial use."

Disturbed reality
That Thijs acted very calculatingly at times, or listened to music to get in the mood for the murders, does not mean he could reason normally, according to the experts. "You can still plan, act deliberately within your disturbed reality in such a situation," they said.

On Tuesday afternoon, relatives of Thijs' victims will speak. Next week the Justice Department will present its sentencing and attorney Serge Weening will hold his plea.

https://www.1limburg.nl/psychotische-thijs-h-werd-niet-goed-geholpen-door-ggz?context=topstory

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