Dr. Faisal Rahman testified that Desmond said he had come to the hospital because he was suffering from the symptoms of the disorder after having an argument with his wife Shanna.

Cpl. Gerry Rose-Berthiaume testified that witnesses said Lionel Desmond had struggled to cope after returning from war and had conflicts with his spouse that seemed to spiral out of control after a New Year's Eve incident.

The hearing into the death of Lionel Desmond, his mother, wife and daughter will resume in Guysborough, N.S., on Monday.

Lionel Desmond, an Afghan war veteran, shot and killed his wife Shanna, 31, their 10-year-old daughter Aaliyah and his 52-year-old mother Brenda, before turning the gun on himself.

"It's important because we don't want other families to have our experience, to have the soul damage done to us."

What most people remember about Shanna Desmond was her ever-present, winning smile and the optimism it reflected.

The community is working to raise money for funerals for three of four family members found dead in an Upper Big Tracadie home in Nova Scotia Tuesday evening.