The red herring of adolescent mental health

An increase in adolescent distress and mental health symptoms has been clearly documented since the COVID-19 pandemic, as has increased exposure to adverse childhood experiences. Layer on top of these stressors being a youth of divorcing or separating high conflict families, and adolescent symptomatology can suddenly become a flashpoint for parental attention, division and conflict. Approaching cases using an ecological and family systems framework is necessary for accurate conceptualization and assessment of best interests in the context of child custody evaluations. Doing so ensures that adolescent mental health does not become a red herring in high conflict cases, leading to undue focus on the adolescent's mental health without considering other salient factors in the case, such as the broader parent conflict. Programs offered at the Center of Excellence for Children, Families & the Law at William James College designed to improve the lives of youth by addressing parental conflict are described.     

The effects of maternal incarceration on adolescent children

This study examined aspects of the school, community, and home adjustment of 58 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 20 whose mothers were incarcerated. High rates of school drop-out (36%) were observed. Dropping out was related to their mother's educational attainment. These adolescents were more than four times as likely to be out of school than a sample of their best friends; four times more likely to be suspended; three times more likely to be significantly absent from school and nearly four times as likely to be failing classes. More than half of these children required school visits for disciplinary reasons during the previous 12 months, and more than a quarter of them had been arrested. School problems and delinquent behavior might be related to the extent of maternal drug use. Although these adolescents initially experienced difficulty adapting to structured placements, those who were living in homes with rules and with family members had better educational outcomes, as did children who communicated frequently with their mothers. Authors' Note: This research was supported by grants from the American Bar Association and the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education, US Department of Education.     

The phenomenon of gene linkage and recombination in the paternity test

The phenomenon of gene linkage and recombination may nearly be overlooked in paternity test of one single child, but it is likely encountered in paternity test of twin or more. In a case of paternity test, the results of 17 items including eight DNA loci were analyzed and the phenomenon of gene linkage and recombination was discussed in detail. This phenomenon should be brought into necessary attention in the paternity test.     

Liver pathology in fatal drug addiction

Liver sections from 273 drug addicts submitted to medicolegal autopsy at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen in the period 1975 – 1979 were studied. In 65% of the cases non-specific portal inflammation only was found. Birefringent foreign material — identified as the mineral talc (magnesium silicate) was observed in 38% of the cases; in these cases non-specific portal inflammation was always present. Changes compatible with acute or chronic persistent hepatitis or hepatitis sequelae were observed in 8% of the cases; cirrhosis in 3%. HBs-antigen was detected in 4%. In 22% fatty infiltration was present; in 4% as the only abnormal finding. Finally no pathological changes were found in 6%. The results were related to anamnestic information of kind and duration of drug abuse and to the cause of death. Furthermore a comparison was performed between the groups with and without birefringent material. The data suggest that the birefringent material may be of importance to the pathogenesis of the non-specific portal inflammation.     

Celebrity worship,addiction and criminality

Abstract

Two studies assessed the relationship between celebrity worship and (i) addiction (n=1359) and (ii) criminality (n=2158). Overall Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) scores correlated positively with Eysenck Personality Questionnaire – Revised (EPQ-R) Addiction and Criminality sub-scale scores. In further support of the absorption–addiction model of celebrity worship (McCutcheon, Lange, & Houran, 2002, Conceptualization and measurement of celebrity worship. British Journal of Psychology, 93, 67–87.), addiction correlated positively with one component of celebrity worship, and criminality correlated positively with all four components produced by the current work. Different types of celebrity worship were associated with preferences for celebrities from particular domains. For instance, those scoring highly on the “Deleterious Imitation” component favoured music celebrities, as opposed to political figures. It was concluded that pathological celebrity worshippers are seeking a personal identity and are drawn to particular celebrities. Imitating these celebrities can have negative consequences for the worshipper.     

Post-mortem investigations of fatal cases of narcotic addiction

Organic lesions induced by narcotics are caused by the mode of application as well as directly or indirectly by the toxic effect of the substances.The cause of death is very often oedema of the lungs and brain, toxic circulatory failure or failure of certain vital organs, due to cellular degeneration.Narcotics abusers show mainly liver damage. Cell degeneration and infiltration of round cells have to be interpreted as drug hepatopathy and usually not as viral hepatitis.Histochemical tests show reduced enzyme levels in the impaired liver tissue. Toxic degeneration and inflammatory reactions are seen in the kidneys. Brain lesions are confined to cellular damage without necrotic degeneration of larger areas. Sporadically there are perivascular haemorrhages.The heart and the vascular system show mainly inflammatory reactions due to the application of the drug and rarely capillary embolism subsequent to the injection of dissolved tablets. Centrally stimulating substances cause hypertrophy of the tunica media in the pulmonary vessels combined with pulmonary hypertension.With progressive social collapse the drug addict suffers from dental caries, profound inflammatory periodontopathy as well as from fractures and fissures as a result of gnashing the teeth (bruxism).     

Alcohol addiction of methamphetamine abusers in Japan.

Fifty-eight methamphetamine (MAMP) abusers were surveyed to demonstrate the types of nature of MAMP abuse. In-depth interviews using psychophysiological techniques assessed the subjects to be truthful or deceptive about their abuse histories. Research diagnostic criteria determined the subjects clinical symptoms. The results show that three factors characterize MAMP abuse: significant correlation was found between the years of abuse; the manifestation of somatic or mental disorders or both, and alcohol (Alc) addiction. MAMP abusers who were nondrinkers or light drinkers developed a tendency to dislike Alc after MAMP abuse, while there was no change in Alc consumption in heavy drinkers. The findings suggest that the combined abuse of MAMP and Alc aggravates somatic and mental disorders and that Alc plays an important role in the fatal effect of MAMP, especially from small doses. This provides support for the synergistic effects between MAMP and Alc. Coadministration of MAMP and Alc appears to produce long-acting and more complicated changes in the brain's neurotransmitter function.     

RUS-CHN图谱骨龄评价法用于推侧青少年年龄

目的探讨RUS-CHN(RC)图谱评价法用于13~18岁青少年年龄推侧的应用价值。方法4 424名(男2 272,女2 152)13~18岁正常城市汉族青少年,以简化RUS-CHN法建立手腕骨发育等级图谱。另以1 048名(男530,女518)13~18岁青少年为检验样本,比较不同方法骨龄与生活年龄的差异。结果RUS-CHN图谱法可仅评价桡骨、尺骨远端和第III指的4块掌指骨骺。检验样本中男14~17岁、女13~16岁年龄组,RC图谱法骨龄与生活年龄之间的差异均无统计学显著性(W ilcoxon符号秩和检验,P>0.05),对男18岁、女17岁组出现显著性差异的可能原因进行了讨论。结论RUS-CHN图谱法骨龄适用于男13~18岁、女13~17岁青少年的年龄推测。     

Drug addiction in Poland and criminalistic traces

The authors describe the most popular drugs and their substitutes being used in Poland. The paper also presents the problem of developing and examining criminalistic traces in biological and some non-organic materials.     

The correlates of child physical abuse and neglect by adolescent mothers

Theoretical and empirical knowledge about the link between adolescent motherhood and child maltreatment is in an early stage of development. Research has produced contradictory findings as to a relationship between the two and has not focused on identifying correlates. To fill gaps in the knowledge base and generate hypotheses for future tests, this secondary analysis of data on a subset of 119 mothers who gave birth prior to their 18th birthday focused on identifying characteristics that discriminate among low-income adolescent mothers with maltreated children and comparable mothers whose children were not known to be maltreated. Bivariate analyses of 18 characteristics from several theoretically justified domains revealed that 11 were associated with neglect and four with abuse. Step-sise discriminant analysis identified six correlates of neglect that correctly classified 85% of the mothers and four for abuse that correctly classified 79% of the mothers. Discussion focuses on implications for future research and hypothesis generation.     

The role of adolescent physical abuse in adult intimate partner violence

This study's primary aims were to examine whether a sample of young adults, aged 23 to 31, who had been documented as physically abused by their parent(s) during adolescence would be more likely to aggress, both physically and verbally, against their intimate partners compared with nonabused young adults and whether abuse history was (along with other risk factors) a significant predictor of intimate partner physical and emotional violence perpetration or victimization. In this longitudinal study, 67 abused and 78 nonabused adults (of an original sample of 198 adolescents) completed the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale and the Jealousy and Emotional Control Scales. Nonabused comparison adolescents were matched for age, gender, and community income. As adults, participants with abuse histories had significantly higher rates of intimate partner physical violence and verbal aggression than did comparison participants. Multivariate logistic regressions indicated that adults with histories of physical abuse were more than twice as likely to be physically violent and almost six times more likely to be verbally aggressive to their intimate partners than were comparison participants. Having had an alcohol use disorder, being married to or living with a partner, and perceiving one's partner as controlling were also significantly associated with physical violence. Jealousy and feeling controlled by one's partner were also significant predictors of verbal aggression. These findings underscore the importance of preventing adolescent abuse as a means of decreasing the incidence of intimate partner physical violence in adulthood.     

The nature and the occurrence of birefringent material in different organs in fatal drug addiction

Insoluble birefringent tablet filler materials commonly found in tablets used in solution by drug addicts as intravenous injections were investigated microscopically. The following filler materials were investigated: talc, potato- and maize-starch, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate and siliciumoxid. The morphological characteristics of the different materials are described. Tissue sections (lung, liver, spleen, heart, bone-marrow, kidney, lymph-nodes and endocrine glands) from 33 consecutive fatality cases of intravenous drug addicts autopsied at the University Institute of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen were studied with special reference to the occurrence and nature of birefringent material. Birefringent material was most often demonstrated in lung tissue (94%), followed by spleen (76%), liver (55%), lymph-nodes (portal: 39%) and bone-marrow (24%). The material was always localized intracellularly. Granulomatous reaction was only seen in the lungs. Except for one case, talc was the only foreign material seen in other organs than the lungs, undoubtedly due to its smaller size. The presence of insoluble foreign material in lung tissue of drug addicts indicates a habit of intravenous administration and the amount of the material indicates whether the addict usually injects tablets or only does so occasionally. The presence of birefringent material in the organs have only rarely any obvious clinical implications.     

The role of family conflict and marital conflict in adolescent functioning

Recent research has suggested that general family conflict is more disruptive to child functioning than is marital conflict. We hypothesized, in contrast to earlier work, that marital conflict will contribute unique variance to our understanding of child functioning but only when it occurs in front of children. One hundred and forty-six mother/adolescent pairs served as participants. Mothers completed measures of marital and general family conflict. Both mothers and teachers completed measures on child functioning at two points in time separated by 1 year. Consistent with the earlier findings, general family conflict was more predictive of child adjustment problems than marital satisfaction. However, marital conflict occurring in front of the child was equally predictive of child problem behaviors as was general family conflict.     

The urban anti-crime patrol phenomenon: A case study of a student effort

During the past decade Americans have engraved property, joined block watch organizations, and organized anti-crime patrols, often because they believed crime was out of control. In general such efforts tend to be short-lived, progressing from initial enthusiasm to a relatively brief period of operation and eventual death. What are the key factors in this natural history of citizen anti-crime actions? Drawing on interviews of patrol leaders and members, participant observation, an analysis of campus newspaper stories, and responses to open-ended survey items, this paper tries to answer this question by examining a student patrol at Drake University. The research reveals that the campus crime “problem” was largely the product of student newspaper emphasis, the patrol was able to function because the university provided the necessary resources, and participants joined for a variety of motives. The patrol eventually declined, however, because the student newspaper no longer emphasized the crime problem; student participation decreased because of the monotony associated with surveillance and the existence of organizational problems, especially the lack of strong leadership.     

The forensic medical significance of morphometry of the spleen in drug addiction and chronic alcoholic intoxication

Data on histomorphologic damage to the spleen in chronic narcotic and alcoholic intoxication are described. The below features are recommended for the diagnosis of chronic exogenous intoxication: thickening and sclerosis of the spleen connective structures and a lower count of lymphocytes in the white pulp. The diagnosis criteria of chronic intoxication by intravenously administered opiates are: hyperplasia of the spleen follicles as well as a higher quantity of plasmocytes and of eosinophiles in the white pulp. Hypotrophy of the spleen lymphoid follicles and higher counts of monocytes and macrophages in the lymphoid follicles should be also regarded as a sign of chronic alcoholic intoxication. The obtained data can be used by forensic medical experts in the diagnosis of chronic narcotic intoxication and in its differential diagnosis versus alcoholic intoxication.     

Acute myoglobinuria as a fatal complication of heroin addiction

A fatal case of myoglobinuria complicating heroin addiction is described. Clinically the patient had no overt symptoms of rhabdomyolysis. Pathologists should be alerted to this rare complication in heroin addicts who die of no apparent cause. The antimyoglobin immunoperoxidase technique is useful in confirming the diagnosis.