Complex suicide: an unusual case with six methods applied

Complex suicides (CSs) are committed by using more than one method. They account for 1.5-5% of all suicides. We present a case of CSs of a 44-year-old man, found dead in the vicinity of his car, in a deserted frozen field. Police investigation excluded homicide, and no medical data confirmed mental illnesses. Autopsy revealed wrist cuts, neck cuts, acid burns in the GI tract, multiple stab wounds to the head by a screwdriver, and several uncertain signs of hypothermia. Toxicology analysis (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) confirmed ingestion of insecticide. We concluded that stab wounds to the head were the cause of death, while external hemorrhage and hypothermia were contributing factors. This is the first case of CSs reviewed in the literature where six suicide methods were applied. This particular case is interesting because the victim used a screwdriver as a tool for inflicting stab wounds to the head, which is a rare suicidal method.     

Fatal intoxication because of trihexyphenidyl

Trihexyphenidyl (THP) is an anticholinergic agent with forensic toxicological interest. We present a case of a 59-year-old woman with a history of paranoid disorder, who was found dead in the house where she lived alone. The autopsy findings revealed no marked pathological changes. Toxicological analysis based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed THP and its major metabolite (hydroxy-THP) in blood and urine, with THP concentrations of 0.053 and 0.560 mg/L, respectively. The blood and urine ethanol concentrations were low 0.096 and 0.100 g/L, respectively. Based on these results, we determined the cause of death to be THP poisoning. It is suggested that rare case of death associated with THP overdosage should be taken in conjunction with central nervous system depressants (benzodiazepines, ethanol) and/or with other pathological disorders. Thus, our case could not be supportive for this allegation.     

The Role of Peer Contacts in the Relationship Between Parental Knowledge and Adolescents' Externalizing Behaviors: A Latent Growth Curve Modeling Approach

The purpose of the present study was to examine the direct and indirect effects (through peer contacts) of parental knowledge on adolescents’ delinquent and aggressive problem behavior, using latent growth curve modeling. A sample of 457 13- to 14-year old adolescents at first measurement wave (M=13.27; SD=0.45 years) filled out questionnaires about their parents, peers, and problem behavior three times with 1-year intervals in between. Regarding initial levels of behavior, both direct and indirect effects of parental knowledge were found on aggressive as well as on delinquent behavior. When the rate of change in behaviors was considered, only direct effects were found for both types of problem behavior, whereas indirect effects were absent. Gender differences were also found, with stronger effects of parenting on both aggressive and delinquent problem behavior for boys and stronger effects of peer contacts on aggressive behavior for girls. The present study shows that different behaviors of the externalizing spectrum have different trajectories and diverse relations with parenting and should not be treated as identical.

Book reviews

Christian Democracy in Western Germany. By Geoffrey Pridham. London: Croom Helm, 1977. Pp. 371. £9.95.

The Power of the Purse: The Role of European Parliaments in Budgetary Decisions. By David Coombes et al. PEP, Allen &; Unwin, 1976. Pp. 393. £12.00.

Reaching Judgment at Nuremberg. By Bradley F. Smith. London: Andre Deutsch, 1977. Pp. xviii+349. Illus., Index, Biblio. £6.50.

Nemesis at Potsdam: The Anglo‐Americans and the Expulsion of the Germans. Background, Execution, Consequences. By Alfred de Zayas. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1977. Pp. xxvii+268. £5.95.

Innen‐ und Aussenpolitik unter nationalsozialistischer Bedrohung: Deter‐minanten internationaler Beziehungen in historischen Fallstudien. Edited by Erhard Forndran, Frank Golczewski and Dieter Riesenberger. Opladen: West Deutscher Verlag, 1977. Pp. 361, DM 49.

The Illusion of Peace: International Relations in Europe, 1918–1933. By Sally Marks. London: Macmillan, 1976. Pp. 184; £5.95, £2.95 paper.

French Society 1789–1970. By Georges Dupeux. London: Methuen &; Co, 1976. Pp. ix+294. £7.50, Paperback £3.90.

Strategic de la grève. By Bertrand Badie. Paris: Presses de la Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, 1977. Pp. xi+263. Fr. 78.

A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954–1962. By Alistair Horne. Mac‐millan 1977. Pp. 604. £8.95.

Les Politiques Extérieures Européenes dans la Crise. Edited by Alfred Grosser. Paris: Presses de la Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, 1976. Pp. 198. Fr. 85.

L'Avenir est Notre Affaire. By Denis de Rougemont. Paris: Editions Stock, 1977. Pp. 375.

Les Sommets de l'Etat: Essai sur l'élite du pouvoir en France. By Pierre Birnbaum. Paris: Editions due Seuil, 1977. Pp. 188.

Planning and Politics: The British Experience 1970–76. By Michael Shanks. PEP, George Allen and Unwin, 1977. Pp. 142. £6.50 hardback, £2.95 paperback.

Politische Planungssyteme. Edited by Frieder Naschold and Werner Vath. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag, 1973. Pp. 478. DM. 19,80.

Einführung in das politische System der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. By Frank Pilz. Munich: Beck'sche Elementarbücher, Verlag C.H. Beck, 1977. Pp. 366. DM. 28,—.

Soziologie und Sozialpolitik. Edited by Christian von Ferber and Franz Xaver Kaufmann. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag, 1977. Pp. 649. DM. 64,—

The British Cabinet. By John P. Mackintosh. Stevens, 1977 (Third Edition). Pp. xv+656. £5.75.

The History of Political Thought: A Short Introduction. By R. N. Berki. London: J. M. Dent and Son, 1977. Bibliography and Index. Pp. vi+216. £2.95.

France Today: Introductory Studies. Edited by J. E. Flower. London: Methuen, 1977 (Third edition rev.). Pp. vi+190. £2.75 paperback.

Det utrolige dognet (The incredible day). By Bjorn Bjornsen. Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1977. Pp. 304.     

Posttraumatic stress disorder in a World War II concentration camp survivor caused by the attack of two German shepherd dogs: case report and review of the literature

A 79-year-old woman suffered from acute posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a loco typico, non-displaced fracture of her right distal radius due to an incident involving the assault of two unleashed owned dogs, which suddenly ran into her and aggressively jumped on her chest and knocked her down to the ground. Recovery for her damage claim concerning pain and disability due to her right forearm fracture caused by the incident, was not the issue in the litigation concerned. However, the issue of delayed impact of her previous Holocaust experience placed a significant challenge on M.N., as a plaintiff, in establishing a causal link between the posttraumatic stress disorder concerned and the alleged harmful action of the defendants, the owners of the two dogs. The case reported here proved interesting and instructive not only in the sense of addressing main issues relevant to litigation for psychological damage related to reactivated PTSD and delayed PTSD, but also in the sense of pointing at the clinical relevance of dog assaults on humans which, even without dog bite injuries, may result in a severe traumatization and eventual civil lawsuit.     

Biofuel, dairy production and beef in Brazil: competing claims on land use in São Paulo state

This paper examines the competing claims on land use resulting from the expansion of biofuel production. Sugarcane for biofuel drives agrarian change in So Paulo state, which has become the major ethanol-producing region in Brazil. We analyse how the expansion of sugarcane-based ethanol in So Paulo state has impacted dairy and beef production. Historical changes in land use, production technologies, and product and land prices are described, as well as how these are linked to changing policies in Brazil. We argue that sugarcane/biofuel expansion should be understood in the context of the dynamics of other agricultural sectors and the long-term national political economy rather than as solely due to recent global demand for biofuel. This argument is based on a meticulous analysis of changes in three important sectors - sugarcane, dairy farming, and beef production - and the mutual interactions between these sectors.     

Unattainable past,unsatisfying present – Yugonostalgia: an omen of a better future?

Nostalgia for the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, yugonostalgia, has become widespread throughout the former Yugoslavia. It takes various forms and expressions, but it represents a selective and largely embellished remembrance, influenced by the need of those who engage in it to escape from the unsatisfying present they live in. In most cases, yugonostalgia is a bittersweet craving for the past – passive, static, and restricted. The paper argues that the actions inspired by yugonostalgia not only can have an active, dynamic, and progressive face, but can also serve as an important factor in the reconciliation process among former Yugoslavs. With its focus on positive and inclusive aspects of the common socialist past, yugonostalgia has the potential to (re)connect the nostalgic subjects throughout the former Yugoslav space, helping them to overcome the alienation that resulted from the violent dissolution of the common state.     

Conceptual Analysis and Measurement of Adolescent Autonomy

The aim of the present study was to examine the concept of adolescent autonomy. A conceptual analysis of different theoretical perspectives has resulted in an integrative model of attitudinal, emotional, and functional autonomy. Attitudinal autonomy refers to the cognitive process of choosing and defining a goal. Emotional autonomy refers to the affective process of feeling confident about one's own choices and goals. Functional autonomy refers to the regulatory process of developing a strategy to achieve these goals. The empirical value of this model was tested by developing a questionnaire assessing adolescent autonomy. Subjects were 400 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old. Confirmatory factor analyses (LISREL 8) provided evidence for the 3 hypothesized dimensions.