Michael Ryan and his son Dennis were charged with murder in association with the death of a member of a cult headed by Michael Ryan. In using the insanity defense, the Ryans' attorneys used psychiatrists and psychologists who testified that Michael Ryan was paranoid and that his son suffered from a shared psychosis stemming from dependence on his father. The prosecution's psychiatrist testified that the Ryans were eccentric but sane. The jury agreed and convicted the defendants. The absence of the totality of medical symptoms necessary to establish delusional paranoid disorder and dependent personality disorder justified such a verdict. This case illustrates the flawed approach to providing evidence for cases involving the insanity defense. The American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association should develop forensic boards which supervise clinical testimony provided before the court. The role of these clinical boards would be to maintain independent, objective clinical input in legal matters based on the merit of the case and without the influence of either the prosecution or the defense. An important element in such a clinical analysis would be the input of clinical sociologists through an independent forensic board approved by the American Sociological Association. Such boards would provide input relevant to social phenomenon which may have contributed to the circumstances for which the insanity plea is being considered. 24 references.