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Previously, at a press conference at People Power Party headquarters, when reporters asked about conflicts in allocating candidates for MPs' positions, Samak slammed journalists, saying the question was an intrusion into his party's internal affairs.

His remark to a female reporter publicised on that occasion was big news: "Don't say I'm rude. Did you have sinful sex last night?"

And in June, the premier, surprised and furious to see reporters waiting to covering a meeting of the five coalition parties at the Prince Palace Hotel, stared at media crews with a look of rage.

Dr Apichai Mongkol, deputy director-general of the Department of Mental Health, said Samak was intentionally communicating dissatisfaction towards the reporters, and that was not a mental problem.

In regard to the reporters, he said they had to do their job and might have been pressured by their bosses and competition in the media business. So Samak might actually be communicating to media group administrators that he did not want to be exposed at that time, Apichai said.

Dr Panpimol Lotrakul, of the same department, said discussion was needed on the scope of the media's activities, as there was no agreement on such between news outlets and public figures. And it appeared that on Sunday Samak felt reporters intruded into his private space.

Pirongrong Ramasoota Rananand, head of the Journalism Department at Chulalongkorn University, said the media should set a standard for their profession and limit the scope of their work without intruding on to people's private areas.

Samak's outburst at reporters might not be proper but the media had opened the way for to the premier to attack them the way he did, she said.

Parichart Sthapitanonda, from Chulalongkorn's Public Relations Department, said Samak's remarks were directed to more than just media person. But he should realise his aggressive nature made him prone to angry outbursts and let government spokesmen talk to reporters instead.

Samak knew the media's work very well as he owned a newspaper and hosted radio programmes for many years. His anger could be aimed at distracting people from the issues they wanted answers to.

"The media should consider whether to stop following Samak and cover only important issues. They must do so in unity. In that case, Samak would likely improve himself," she said.