That's an interesting question. If you mean insanity in the legal sense, the answer will really depend on the jurisdiction in which the crime occurs. I am currently located in the state of Arkansas. Arkansas' statute states that a mental disease or defect (if resulting in a specific lack of capacity) can result in a lack of criminal responsibility. In some jurisdictions, this is referred to as insanity at the time of the alleged offense. In Arkansas, our definition of mental disease or defect includes a "substantial disorder of mood," which depression would qualify as. While it is an uncommon source of legal insanity, I have seen several cases in which a person was acquitted by reason of insanity because of depression. Typically, the depression is accompanied by psychosis in these cases.
That's an interesting question. If you mean insanity in the legal sense, the answer will really depend on the jurisdiction in which the crime occurs. I am currently located in the state of Arkansas. Arkansas' statute states that a mental disease or defect (if resulting in a specific lack of capacity) can result in a lack of criminal responsibility. In some jurisdictions, this is referred to as insanity at the time of the alleged offense. In Arkansas, our definition of mental disease or defect includes a "substantial disorder of mood," which depression would qualify as. While it is an uncommon source of legal insanity, I have seen several cases in which a person was acquitted by reason of insanity because of depression. Typically, the depression is accompanied by psychosis in these cases.