NCJ Number
19432
Date Published
1974
Length
75 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE BIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF ANTISOCIAL SOCIOPATHY, DEALING PARTICULARLY WITH DRUG TREATMENT OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSFUNCTIONS WHICH MAY INSTIGATE SUCH DEVIANCE.
Abstract
THREE STUDIES ARE DISCUSSED WHICH DEALT WITH THE RELATION BETWEEN CARDIOVASCULAR HYPER-REACTIVITY OF SOCIOPATHS TO AROUSAL DRUGS (EPINEPHRINE, ADRENALINE, IMIPRAMINE PAMOATE) AND SOCIOPATHIC BEHAVIOR. THE FIRST TWO STUDIES SERVED TO ISOLATE THE TYPE OF PRIMARY SOCIOPATH WHO DEMONSTRATES EXAGGERATED CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSIVITY (DESIGNATED AS 'SIMPLE' SOCIOPATH) AND TO VERIFY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUTONOMIC DYSFUNCTION AND THE EFFICACY OF TREATMENT THROUGH CHEMICAL AND SENSORY AROUSAL (AS DEMONSTRATED EARLIER IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN). THE THIRD STUDY A SIX-MONTH DRUG INTERVENTION EXPERIMENT WITH 41 INCARCERATED SOCIOPATH SUBJECTS, YIELDED BENEFIT TO NINE TOTALLY QUALIFIED SOCIOPATHS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM THROUGH DRUG-INDUCED AROUSAL. THE SUBJECTS SHOWED IMPROVED BEHAVIOR AND THEMSELVES REPORTED SUCH POSITIVE CHANGES AS MORE ENERGY, LESS ANXIETY AND IRRITABILITY, BETTER SLEEP, BETTER APPETITE, LESS IMPULSIVITY, AND MARKEDLY INCREASED FEELINGS OF WELL-BEING. THE AUTHORS VIEW FAVORABLY THE THERAPY OF NERVOUS SYSTEM AROUSAL (PARTICULARLY UTILIZING THE DRUG TOFRANIL) FOR BOTH INCARCERATED AND NON-INCARCERATED SOCIOPATHS, PROVIDED THAT PSYCHOTHERAPY AND RESOCIALIZATION BE CONDUCTED CONCURRENTLY. THEY FORESEE THAT PAROLE FOR INCARCERATED SOCIOPATHS WILL HAVE TO BE TIED TO ADEQUATE THERAPY ON AN OUT-PATIENT BASIS.