Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- A medical doctor in Vancouver , British Columbia , told CNN Thursday that California arson suspect Harry Burkhart suffered from severe mental illness in 2010 , when she examined him as part of a team of doctors . Dr. Blaga Stancheva , a family physician and specialist in obstetrics , said both Burkhart and his mother , Dorothee , were her patients in Vancouver while both were applying for refugee status in Canada . `` I was asked to diagnose and treat Harry to support a claim explaining why he was unable to show up in a small-claims court case , '' Stancheva told CNN in a phone interview . She declined to cite the case or Burkhart 's role in it . Stancheva said she and other doctors including a psychiatrist diagnosed Burkhart with `` autism , severe anxiety , post-traumatic stress disorder and depression . '' The diagnosis was spelled out in a letter she wrote for the small-claims court case , Stancheva said . Stancheva , citing doctor-patient confidentiality , would not elaborate further , nor would she identify the psychiatrist involved in the diagnosis . Burkhart , a 24-year-old German citizen , has been charged with 37 counts of arson following a string of 52 fires in Los Angeles . The charges are in connection with fires at 12 locations scattered through Hollywood , West Hollywood and Sherman Oaks , according to authorities . Stancheva said the refugee applications by Burkhart and his mother were denied by the Canadian government , and she has not seen Burkhart since early March of 2010 . `` I was shocked and dismayed at what happened in Los Angeles , and it appears he was not being treated for his depression , '' she said .
A Canadian doctor says she was part of a team that examined Harry Burkhart in 2010 . The team included a psychologist , the Canadian doctor says . The diagnosis was ` ` depression , severe anxiety , post - traumatic stress disorder and depression '' Burkhart is facing 37 counts of involvement in a string of fires in Los Angeles .