NCJ Number
85686
Date Published
1982
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A comprehensive diagnosis of offenders should determine the existence of any biochemical disorders such as hypoglycemia, cerebral allergies, pyroluria, trace metal imbalances, histamine disorders, psychomotor epilepsy, and alcoholism.
Abstract
An interview with an offender should include questions that would reveal any symptoms that point toward biochemical disorders, and laboratory tests should be conducted to confirm any suspicions. Laboratory tests should include a complete blood count, a urinalysis, tests for Immunoglobulins E and A, serum zinc, serum copper, and blood lead levels, as well as the routine screening blood chemistries. Hypoglycemia is one type of biochemical disorder that may be found. Reactive functional hypoglycemia usually contributes to delinquent behavior. A victim will experience tiredness, headaches, confusion, and irritability. Cerebral allergies manifest themselves as psychiatric conditions which result from reaction to various environmental substances, and pyroluria is a condition in which an abnormal product of pyrrole metabolism interferes with the functioning of vitamin B6 and zinc. Histamine disorders result in an over-stimulated brain (too low in histamine) or a blank-mind depression (too high in histamine). Manic-depressive disorders result in extreme mood swings, with persons in the manic state (hyperactivity) being prone to law violations. Persons with psychomotor epilepsy may be subject to uncontrollable episodes of violence when there is seizure activity in the brain. Means of diagnosing these various biochemical disorders are described. Sixteen references are provided.