NCJ Number
60535
Journal
Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (3RD QUARTER 1979) Pages: 200-212
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
LOW BLOOD SUGAR PRODUCES TEMPORARY INSANITY. THE ORTHOMOLECULAR UNDERSTANDING OF SUCH IMBALANCES AND ITS APPLICATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN AVOID IMPRISONMENT OF THE TEMPORARILY INSANE.
Abstract
LITERATURE FROM 1930 THROUGH THE 1970'S INDICATES THE EFFECTS OF HYPOGLYCEMIA ON BEHAVIOR. THE FOLLOWING OFFENSES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE OCCURRED DURING HYPOGLYCEMIC EPISODES: DISORDERLY CONDUCT, ASSAULT AND BATTERY, ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, HOMICIDE, CRUELTY TO CHILDREN AND WIVES, EMBEZZLEMENT, PETTY LARCENY, VANDALISM, ARSON, SLANDER, AND SEXUAL OFFENSES. AMNESIA USUALLY FOLLOWS NOT ONLY SEVERE BUT SOMETIMES EVEN VERY SLIGHTLY HYPOGLYCEMIC STATES. THEREFORE, WHEN A DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS CONFRONTED BY A CLIENT WHO CLAIMS TO BE SUFFERING FROM AMNESIA IN REFERENCE TO AN EPISODE OF VIOLENCE OR OTHER MISBEHAVIOR, THE ATTORNEY SHOULD CONSULT THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES. THE FIRST SUSPICION OF HYPOGLYCEMIA WILL ARISE WHEN: (1) THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE DOES NOT SEEM PSYCHOLOGICALLY WELL MOTIVATED, (2) THERE IS AMNESIA FOR EITHER THE WHOLE INCIDENT OR FOR SINGLE DETAILS, (3) THERE IS AMNESIA FOR THE TIME PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, (4) PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS ACCOMPANY OR FOLLOW THE INCIDENT (STRIKING PERSPIRATION, TREMOR, DEEP SLEEP), (5) THE PERSON IS UNDERNOURISHED OR ABNORMALLY FAT, OR IN CASES WHICH PRESENT A HISTORY OF CHRONIC MALNUTRITION, ACUTE STARVATION, DIARRHEA, OR VOMITING PRIOR TO THE CRIME. METHODS OF DISTINGUISHING THE MALINGERERS FROM THOSE WHOSE CONDITION IS REAL ARE OUTLINED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)