NCJ Number
63701
Date Published
Unknown
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES AN INTERVIEW WITH PARTICIPANTS AT THE CANADIAN SCHIZOPHRENIA ASSOCIATION SEMINAR WHO SUGGEST THE DIET OF PRISON INMATES HAS A DIRECT EFFECT ON THEIR PERCEPTION AND SUBSEQUENT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
SOME 10 PERCENT OF THE U.S. POPULATION IS SAID TO BE, AT SOME POINT, AFFLICTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS REQUIRING TREATMENT. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE POPULATION MIGHT ALSO BE CONSIDERED SO AFFLICTED, SINCE CURRENT FINDINGS IN ORTHOMOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY SUGGEST THAT ANY BODILY ILLNESS IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY SOME MENTAL DYSFUNCTION. STUDIES OF PERUVIAN PEASANTS, AMERICAN INDIANS, CANADIAN ESKIMOS, AND AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES SUGGEST A DEFINITE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A LOW-PROTEIN LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIET AND AGGRESSION. VIOLENT CRIMINALS SEEM TO LIVE PRINCIPALLY ON CANDY BARS, COKES, COFFEE, AND ALCOHOL; THIS FURTHER AGGRAVATES THEIR CONDITION, AS THEIR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS FLUCTUATE DAILY. IN ADDITION, THEY MAY LACK VITAMIN C, AN OUTSTANDING ANTI-STRESS AGENT, AND THE NERVE-RELAXING B VITAMINS SUCH AS B-1 OR B-3 (NIACIN). AT THE PRINCE ALBERT PENITENTIARY, (SASKATCHEWAN) ONE-THIRD OF THE PRISONERS COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS HAVING SUBCLINICAL PELLAGRA, OR ALLERGY OF THE BRAIN, CHARACTERIZED BY DIZZINESS AND HEADACHE. DRUG TREATMENT OFTEN EXACERBATES THE SYMPTOMS. IN ADDITION, PRISONERS WILL OFTEN PREFER JUNK FOOD TO MORE NUTRITIOUS DIETS, OR THEY MAY DEVELOP ALLERGIES TO AN UNVARIED DIET. (AOP)