Andrea Yates On Suicide Watch

HOUSTON -- The Clear Lake mother who was convicted of drowning her children faced a psychotic setback recently and has been placed on suicide watch.

Attorney George Parnham said his last visit with Andrea Yates was troubling.

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Andrea Yates Faces Psychotic Setback

Since beginning her life sentence, Yates' mental health was steadily improving until recently when she suffered from a psychotic setback, according to her attorney.

Parnham said she is trying to kill herself by not eating. Officials asked her mother to make an emergency visit Monday in hopes of getting her to eat something.

"Her facial features were more kin to what I saw that day after I got hired to represent her," Parnham said.

Her attorney told News2Houston that she has lost weight, appears unkempt and her delusions have returned. Parnham believes the realization of what she has done triggered her setback.

"Not only does she grieve because her kids aren't with her, she took their lives and she remembers that day," Parnham said.

Psychiatrist Dr. Harvey Rosenstock said it is common for psychosis to be replaced by overwhelming guilt.

"Some people can be so overwhelmed by the knowledge that they finally realized that they committed the most heinous act against their own flesh and blood that they say I am of no value anymore ... and if God doesn't take me then I'm going to take myself," Rosenstock said.

Yates was placed under suicide watch Monday and all visitations have been terminated. Her glasses were also taken away from her for fear that she might use them as a weapon.

Rosenstock said he believes family support is an essential part of treatment.

"I always favor someone coming and supplying that kind of human connection because that helps more than most pills do," Rosenstock said.

Since her incarceration, Yates' mother has visited her about twice a month. Her husband, Rusty, visits her every other week.

Parnham said that the family has praised the medical staff and the warden at the facility where she was placed.

Yates' attorney also said that when he visits her, he tells her about groups that support her and their efforts to inform the public of postpartum depression, and about her appeal. He plans to ask for an extension to file the appeal.

Yates was convicted of capital murder for drowning three of her five children. The other two were also drowned.