NCJ Number
56946
Journal
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Volume: 38 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1977) Pages: 907-908
Date Published
1977
Length
2 pages
Annotation
A 32- TO 37-YEAR FOLLOWUP OF 1,830 FINNISH VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II WHO HAD SUFFERED A PENETRATING BRAIN INJURY WAS PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF BRAIN INJURY IS CORRELATED WITH THE INCIDENCE OF CRIMINALITY.
Abstract
FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS, THE EXACT SITE OF THEIR CEREBROCRANIAL INJURY HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED PNEUMOENCEPHALOGRAPHICALLY. FOR THOSE FEW WHO REMAINED, THE LOCATION OF THEIR INJURY WAS DETERMINED FROM A ROENTGENOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF THE SKULL, FROM THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE MISSILE ENTERED THE SKULL, AND FROM NEUROLOGIC DEFICITS. BRAIN DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO BE FRONTAL IN 606 OF THE PATIENTS, TEMPORAL IN 357, PARIETAL IN 689, AND OCCIPITAL IN 178. MOST OF THE SAMPLE (70 TO 80 PERCENT) HAD LONG HISTORIES OF GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND ONLY A FEW EXCEPTIONALLY SEVERE INJURIES LED TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION. BASED ON DATA SECURED FROM THE FINNISH CRIMINAL RECORD, THE CRIMINALITY OF THE BRAIN-INJURED SUBJECTS WAS CONTRASTED WITH THAT OF 500 RANDOMLY SELECTED, NONINJURED CONTROLS, ALSO VETERANS OF THE WAR. SINCE THE END OF THE WAR, 100 (5.5 PERCENT) OF THE INJURED AND 21 (4.2 PERCENT) OF THE CONTROLS HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMES PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT. THE RESULTS SHOW, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SEVERAL REPORTS PUBLISHED OVER THE YEARS, THAT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS NOT A SEQUEL OF INJURY TO THE BRAIN. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)