NCJ Number
56386
Journal
Annals of Internal Medicine Volume: 74 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1971) Pages: 743-745
Date Published
1971
Length
3 pages
Annotation
CASE STUDIES ARE PRESENTED OF THREE MEN WHO, DESPITE COMPLETELY NONCRIMINAL PASTS, COMMITTED FELONIES AFTER DEVELOPING THYROTOXICOSIS, A CONDITION RELATED TO HYPERTHYROIDISM.
Abstract
PLAGUED BY INATTENTIVENESS, WEAKNESS, TREMULOUSNESS, EXCESSIVE SWEATING, AND SEVERE SHORTAGE OF BREATH, THE SUBJECTS FACED THE LOSS OR THREATENED LOSS OF THEIR REGULAR JOBS DUE TO SUCH THYROTOXIC SYMPTOMS, WHICH THE EMPLOYERS MISTOOK FOR SIGNS OF ALCOHOLISM. TWO OF THE MEN WERE FIRED FROM THEIR JOBS AND, UNABLE TO FIND ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT, TURNED TO PETTY THEFT AND BURGLARY TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE THIRD SUBJECT, A STORE CLERK, WAS THREATENED WITH FIRING, AND TO HEDGE AGAINST HIS EVENTUAL DISMISSAL, HE BEGAN EMBEZZLING SMALL SUMS FROM THE STORE. ALL THE SUBJECTS WERE EVENTUALLY ARRESTED, TRIED, AND JAILED 2 YEARS OR LONGER. ALL WERE DIAGNOSED AS THYROTOXIC, AND ALTHOUGH MEDICAL TESTIMONY WAS SUBMITTED IN AT LEAST ONE TRIAL, THE JUDGE DISMISSED DEFENSE CONTENTIONS THAT THYROTOXICOSIS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBJECT'S ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. WHILE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THESE CASES REPRESENT A UNUSUAL COMBINATION OF THYROTOXICOSIS WITH PREVIOUSLY WELL-SUPPRESSED CRIMINAL TENDENCIES, THIS SEEMS UNLIKELY BECAUSE OF THE STABLE OCCUPATION AND LIFE PATTERNS OF THESE PATIENTS BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OVERT THYROID DIESEASE. THE CLOSE TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ONSET OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND SYMPTOMATIC THYROTOXICOSIS ALSO CANNOT BE DISMISSED. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE RELATIONSHIP MORE SOUNDLY, FURTHER EXAMPLES OF SUCH BEHAVIOR IN THYROTOXIC PERSONS ARE NECESSARY. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)