CAIRO: Egyptian psychiatrists were busily observing and analyzing the psychological condition of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and Mubarak's sons at the first day of the public trial at the Police Academy. Mubarak feels impending defeat as the nations of the world happily watch the trial unfold, said Ahmed Akabawy, psychiatry professor at Al-Azhar University, but Mubarak's sons, Gamal and Alaa, have complete self-control. Mubarak is using denial as a psychological strategy – in other words, he lives in a “bubble” – to separate himself from the scene unfolding right before his eyes, said Akabawy. A persistent, psychologically driven feeling of injustice may help Mubarak endure his trial and sustain his hope for a lenient sentence, but the ousted leader will only understand the reality when the final verdicts are read, said Akabawy. Gamal and Alaa Mubarak are innocent, and only fate brought them to this trial, added the psychiatrist. Former Interior Minister al-Adly believes as though he were discharging his duties by ordering the killing of January 25 Revolution protestors, said Akabawy. The toppled president is anxious and nervous, but trying to remain in control, said Ussri Abdel Mohessen, professor of psychiatry at Cairo University. His body language showed listlessness at times, particularly during his conversations with Gamal and Alaa. Alaa appeared nervous and Gamal seemed melancholy, according to Abdel Mohessen. While al-Adly appeared to largely control his emotions, he did at times seem upset, said Abdel Mohessen. Al-Adly appears to be in a fierce battle with his own fear, said Ahmed Nayal, another psychiatrist. Mubarak is not suffering from depression, but Alaa appears to be struggling with emotional control, according to Mohammad Hashim Bahrawy, a psychiatrist at Al-Azhar University. Alaa is attempting to garner sympathy from Egyptians by holding a holy Quran, said Bahrawy.
