Psychiatrist Asked Whether Johnny Depp's Snacking And Doodling In Court Counts As 'Narcissistic Behavior'

A psychiatrist called by Amber Heard's legal team as a defense witness was asked on Monday whether Johnny Depp's habit of doodling and eating candy in court were evidence that the actor has narcissistic traits.

Getty Images

Spiegel attributed many narcissistic personality traits to Depp, including "poor control, rapid mood shifts, undue sense of admiration, and worship power."

Heard's attorney Elaine Bredehoft asked Dr. Spiegel: "We've seen Mr. Depp during this trial doodling and eating candy. What if any evidence would that suggest that he has narcissistic traits?"

.

source

But before the psychiatrist had a chance to respond, an attorney for Depp objected to the question, with Judge Penney Azcarate ultimately sustaining the objection

Elsewhere during Dr. Spiegel's testimony, he went through typical signs of narcissism and explained whether he felt they applied to Depp.

He said: "Narcissism patients have poor control, rapid mood shifts, undue sense of admiration, worship power, they worship control.

source

"They have a lack of empathy and people are generally kept around as long as they are useful to them, a large sense of entitlement. Need for praise, and intimate partner violence'"

Dr. Spiegel went on to state that being envious and having a "fragile self esteem" were part of being narcissistic.

When asked if the Pirates of the Caribbean star was narcissistic, he said: "I do think that the fact he thought that Amber owed him and only wanted to be together with him because of his fame is an example of that. I think the jealousy is an example of that. This whole trial in terms of a narcissistic insult is what's going on."

Dr. Spiegel added: "If you're not agreeing with what Mr. Depp has to say, you are no longer useful, okay, therefore you don't really care about others for others, you care about others for your benefit."

During cross-examination, Depp's attorney, Wayne Dennison, asked Spiegel if he had diagnosed the actor with narcissistic personality disorder. 

"I would certainly, if I didn't, I'm certainly thinking that, but at least I'm going to say he has traits," answered Spiegel. "So it's a provisional diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder."

Dennison questioned Spiegel about whether he had broken the Goldwater Rule, which prohibits mental health professionals from diagnosing people they have not examined.

Spiegel stated that he did not because he did not make a definitive diagnosis.

Dr. Spiegel also spoke about Amber Heard.

According to Dr. David Spiegel, Amber Heard has "traits" of borderline and histrionic personality disorders, but not enough of them to "meet full criteria" for a diagnosis.

source

Dr. Shannon Curry, Johnny Depp's psych expert, diagnosed Amber Heard with both disorders after being asked by Depp's lawyers to review the case materials and provide her opinion on whether there was intimate partner violence in the relationship between Heard and Depp.

Curry was also asked to conduct a psychological evaluation of Heard, with whom he met and spoke on two separate occasions. She testified in a Fairfax, Virginia, courtroom that she diagnosed Heard with borderline personality disorder, which is a mental disorder that affects how a person thinks or feels about themselves and others, resulting in self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions, behavior, and relationships.

source

Depp, 58, and Heard, 36, have entered the final week of their defamation trial, in which the former is suing the latter for claiming to be a victim of "sexual violence". He wasn't named in the op-ed but he claims it nonetheless harmed his career and his reputation.

Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard for $50 million. Meanwhile, Heard is countersuing her former husband for twice the amount.