NCJ Number
56771
Journal
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (JANUARY 1940) Pages: 219-233
Date Published
1940
Length
15 pages
Annotation
REPORTED INCIDENTS OF CRIMINALITY FOUND TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HYPOGLYCEMIA ARE DISCUSSED, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS OF HYPOGLYCEMIA ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
MANY CRIMINAL OFFENSES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY PERSONS IN A 'MEDIUM' OR 'MAJOR' HYPOGLYCEMIC STATE. THIS STATE IS ACCOMPANIED BY WEAKNESS, PERSPIRATION, TREMOR, HUNGER, AND CERTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES. AT THE OUTSET OF AN ATTACK, A PERSON MAY FEEL A LACK OF INITIATIVE, INABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS, LOSS OF SPONTANEITY, WEAKNESS OF CONCENTRATION, DEPRESSION, AND PRONOUNCED IRRITABILITY. AS THE ATTACK PROGRESSES, THESE CHANGES BECOME INCREASINGLY MARKED, AND THERE ARE FREQUENTLY STRIKING CHANGES IN GESTICULATION, VOICE, AND FACIAL EXPRESSION. IMPAIRMENT OF THINKING POWER TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE BLOCKING, INABILITY TO FIX ATTENTION, AND LOSS OF POWER OF COORDINATING AND ABSTRACTING INTELLECTUAL WORK ALSO OCCUR. CRIMES REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED IN THE STATE OF INDUCED OR SPONTANEOUS HYPOGLYCEMIA ARE DISORDERLY CONDUCT, ASSAULT AND BATTERY, ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE, TORTURING CHILDREN, CRUELTY IN MARRIAGE, SADISM, SEXUAL AGGRESSION, AND DRUNKENNESS. (DAG)