NCJ Number
57069
Journal
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 86-89
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DOCUMENTS THE FINDINGS OF SEVERAL HEALTH EXPERTS AND DISCUSSES THE THEORIES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS WHICH LINK AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR WITH AN INDIVIDUAL'S DIET.
Abstract
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SCIENTISTS AND PHYSICIANS ARE CONCLUDING THAT MALNUTRITION, FOOD ALLERGIES, AND HYPOGLYCEMIA RESULTING FROM POOR EATING HABITS CAN SET OFF AGGRESSIVE AND MIND-WARPING BEHAVIOR THAT CAN LEAD TO CRIMINAL ACTS. A PROBATION OFFICER IN OHIO REQUIRES THAT ALL JUVENILES REFERRED TO HER AGENCY TAKE A TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SUFFER FROM HYPOGLYCEMIA, AND IF THE TEST REGISTERS POSITIVE, SHE PRESCRIBES A DIET AS PART OF THE PROBATION REQUIREMENT. A PSYCHIATRIST FROM OKLAHOMA IS GATHERING EVIDENCE THAT ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO FOODS AND POLLUTANTS OFTEN TRIGGER VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN SOME OF HIS CLIENTS, AND A NEW YORK PSYCHIATRIST TREATS PATIENTS WHOSE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR APPEARS TO BE BIOCHEMICALLY BASED USING PRESCRIBED DIETS. THESE PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHERS REFERRED TO IN THIS ARTICLE, FOUND POSITIVE RESULTS IN BEHAVIOR OF CLIENTS WHO FOLLOWED THE DIET FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. RESEARCHERS INDICATE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY CRIMES COMMITTED EACH YEAR CAN BE TRACED TO EFFECTS OF FOOD ON BEHAVIOR SINCE MODERN CRIME REPORTING SYSTEMS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DEVICES ARE NOT GEARED TO COLLECTING SUCH INFORMATION. THE SUBJECT NEEDS FURTHER RESEARCH. (DAG)