Stress causes some people to act out of character.  However, temporary insanity defenses are seldom used because they seldom work.  Consider this desperate gunman who prayed with the clerk he robbed at a check-cashing business before finishing the robbery, then later surrendered.  He was reportedly an unemployed veteran.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/65169007.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:Ueyc+D3aUUr

AP - 10/21/09 - INDIANAPOLIS - Police say an armed robber spent nearly 10 minutes on his knees praying with a clerk at an Indianapolis check-cashing business before fleeing with $20 from the register.
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Security video from the Advance America branch clearly showed the man's face during the stickup Monday, and a 23-year-old surrendered Tuesday on a preliminary charge of robbery.
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Police say the robbery took an unusual turn after the gunman came around the counter when the clerk starting crying and talking about God.
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The man said he had a 2-year-old child to support and asked for prayers about overcoming his hardships.
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Police say the man removed the bullet from his gun and gave it to the clerk before taking her cell phone and the money.

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Desperate people do desperate things in desperate times.  We must always strive to keep our balance, even when suffering hardships.  The man now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term, which certainly did not help his family who he was so anxious about.  When one finds oneself considering crimes or violence to self or others as an answer to problems, that is a que to get psychological help.  Nothing positive comes from applying negative solutions to hardships. 

The article does not give full information on the robber, but it would not be surprising to learn that he had no previous criminal history.  Hopefully, the court will consider that the man was likely suffering from an overload of stress and that he did not hurt anyone.  My heart goes out to him and his family.  I also feel sorry about the clerk who underwent the terrifying experience.  I know what it is like to be in terror for my safety.  See this article about my worst stalking experience since trying to get justice for the secret arrest and wrongful death of my mentally and physically ill brother, Larry Neal.  It includes the actual police report I filed, but no case number was assigned and no investigation ensured:

Mary Neal Finally Heard From Police Re 911 Emergency Call When Waylaid at Chevron w/o Police Help
http://freespeakblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/mary-neal-finally-heard-from-police-re.html  

Blessings!

Mary