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Pistorius has anxiety disorder, psychiatrist tells court

Yahoo South Africa News
  • Oscar Pistorius yawns in a courtroom during his ongoing murder trial at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
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    Oscar Pistorius yawns in a courtroom during his ongoing murder trial at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)

    Oscar Pistorius yawns in a courtroom during his ongoing murder trial at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
  • Children react as Oscar Pistorius, left, leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
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    Children react as Oscar Pistorius, left, leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

    Children react as Oscar Pistorius, left, leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
  • Oscar Pistorius in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
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    Oscar Pistorius in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)

    Oscar Pistorius in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
  • Ballistics expert Tom "Wollie" Wolmarans gives evidence for the defense at the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
    4/10

    Ballistics expert Tom "Wollie" Wolmarans gives evidence for the defense at the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)

    Ballistics expert Tom "Wollie" Wolmarans gives evidence for the defense at the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
  • State prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions a defense forensic witness in the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
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    State prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions a defense forensic witness in the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)

    State prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions a defense forensic witness in the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
  • Oscar Pistorius is seated in a courtroom at the high court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
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    Oscar Pistorius is seated in a courtroom at the high court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)

    Oscar Pistorius is seated in a courtroom at the high court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
  • Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
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    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
  • Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
    8/10

    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

    Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
  • Oscar Pistorius sits in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
    9/10

    Oscar Pistorius sits in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)

    Oscar Pistorius sits in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
  • Oscar Pistorius, right, accompanied by an unidentified relative, arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
    10/10

    Oscar Pistorius, right, accompanied by an unidentified relative, arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

    Oscar Pistorius, right, accompanied by an unidentified relative, arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Oscar Pistorius yawns in a courtroom during his ongoing murder trial at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
Children react as Oscar Pistorius, left, leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Oscar Pistorius in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
Ballistics expert Tom "Wollie" Wolmarans gives evidence for the defense at the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions a defense forensic witness in the ongoing murder trial of Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
Oscar Pistorius is seated in a courtroom at the high court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)
Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Oscar Pistorius sits in court for his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Collingridge, Pool)
Oscar Pistorius, right, accompanied by an unidentified relative, arrives at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, March 12, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Oscar Pistorius has an anxiety disorder brought on by an unstable childhood and the "traumatic assault" of having his lower legs amputated as a baby, a psychologist told the court hearing the South African track star's murder trial on Monday.

Pistorius was born without fibulas in his lower legs, leading to amputation at the age of 11 months.

Testifying for the defence about his mental state, forensic psychiatrist Merryl Vorster said that because the surgery was at such a young age, it would have been impossible to reason with the baby, making the pyschological scars much deeper.
— Reuters