Darth Vader had mental illness

Darth Vader was mentally ill, according to a scientific study.

The 'Star Wars' villain - who was Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker before he turned to the 'dark side' and became a black masked evildoer - showed signs of having a borderline personality disorder (BPD) caused by his troubled childhood, according to the research.

It is suggested the lack of a father in his life, the early loss of his mother and his subsequent revenge killing of the Tuskan people whose kidnap of her led to her death, the fear of losing his wife and slaughter of the Jedi younglings could all be signs of the illness.

The study claims Vader meets six of the nine diagnosis pointers for BPD in total.

Psychiatrist Eric Bui from Toulouse University Hospital, France, said: "Turning to the dark side and changing his name could be a sign of identity disturbance.

"I believe that psychotherapy would have helped him."