Lithium and mental health

Randy Ellis, Staff Writer

Published: May 25, 2008

Medication can make a huge difference in the actions of people like Roger Allen Hardy who suffer from bipolar disorder.

Hardy, 42, of Burkburnett, Texas, testified in April that he was off his medications in June 2006 when he created a furor by mailing anthrax hoax letters from his Oklahoma County jail cell to The Oklahoman and the New York School of Interior Design.

He tried to mail a similar letter to the White House, but that letter never made it out of the jail.

Indicted for sending the hoax letters, which contained baby powder, Hardy was found not guilty by reason of insanity in February at the conclusion of a non-jury trial before Tim Leonard, an Oklahoma City federal judge.

Since that time, Hardy has been confined to mental treatment facilities.

At a hearing in April, Hardy appeared rational and remorseful as he discussed his past actions and vowed not to repeat them, saying his behavior was under control because he was taking Lithium.

“I was a man screaming for help when I lost my head and wrote those two letters,” Hardy said. “I felt great remorse then and I do now and would never do something like that again.”

Judge Leonard commented on Hardy’s courtroom appearance, stating Hardy had made “dramatic improvement” by taking Lithium.

The judge, however, decided Hardy should continue to be confined to a mental institution, for now, because he might hurt others or damage property if he were to stop taking his medication.

“His condition depends on whether he continues to take his medicine or not,” the judge said. “It also concerns me he does not have a history of staying on medication for long periods of time when he is on his own.”

Randy Ellis: 475-3522, rellis@oklahoman.com