ORTHOMOLECULAR NUTRITION - THE MISSING MODEL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CHILD ABUSE

• NCJ Number: 60533
• Journal: Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (3RD QUARTER 1979) Pages: 176-187
• Author(s): H G FIRST
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Acad of Orthomolecular Psychiatry
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE - CHILD ABUSE - CULTURAL ROOTS AND POLICY OPTIONS - THE ANNENBERG SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, NOVEMBER 20, 1978

Annotation

ORTHOMOLECULAR NUTRITION IS PRESENTED AS A MODEL FOR CHILD ABUSE MANAGEMENT. ITS ADVANTAGES ARE EXAMINED, AND WAYS TO INTEGRATE THE MODEL INTO EXISTING PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THE ORTHOMOLECULAR MODEL RECOGNIZES THAT NOXIOUS NUTRITION IS A MAJOR CULTURAL ROOT OF BEHAVIORAL ABERRATIONS. THIS MODEL COMPLEMENTS, RATHER THAN COMPETES WITH, OTHER MODELS OF CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. THE MODEL, BASED ON A SCIENTIFICALLY ESTABLISHED THEORY THAT AGGRESSION IS AN EXPRESSION OF BRAIN DYSFUNCTION RESULTING FROM BIOCHEMICAL IMBALANCES, STRIVES TO CORRECT THIS DYSFUNCTION THROUGH SPECIFIC ORTHOMOLECULAR NUTRITION. THE FOUR KINDS OF ABUSERS-BEATERS, TORTURERS, NEGLECTERS, AND SEX OFFENDERS--AND THEIR DEFICIENCIES ARE DESCRIBED. THESE ARE DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ORTHOMOLECULAR MODEL. CULTURAL PATTERNS GENERALLY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILD ABUSE ARE SHOWN TO BE ADAPTIVE TO NOXIOUS NUTRITION. FINALLY, THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF CORRECTED NUTRITION ARE EXAMINED IN RELATION TO DIFFICULT CHILDREN, PROBATIONERS, AND CHILD ABUSERS. AMPLE REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RFC)