A comparison of normal and disturbed adolescent Offer Self-Image Questionnaire responses in an Irish cultural setting

In an effort to gauge the overall usefulness of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) as a practical discriminator between clinically disturbed and normal Irish teenagers, the 11 scale scores and the mean of these scores for 845 normal and 115 disturbed adolescents were computed and compared. The results show that the test does, in fact, distinguish disturbed adolescents from normals and, in particular, psychotic from both normal and other disturbed adolescents. We conclude that the test may have considerable potential on an individual clinical basis, provided suitable cultural norms are established.Lecturer in Behavioral Science, Faculty of Nursing Post-Graduate Course, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. B. A., 1966, and H. Dip. Ed., 1967, University College, Galway; Dip. Psych., University College, Dublin, 1973. Recipient in 1977 of Council of Europe Medical Fellowship — field of study Residential Treatment of Disturbed Adolescents.     

Motor vehicle exhaust gas suicide in Victoria, Australia 1998-2002

Motor vehicle exhaust gas suicide (MVEGS) is the second most frequent method of suicide in Victoria, Australia. It is a highly lethal method of suicide with 1.5 deaths for every hospital admission. Australian regulations require all vehicles manufactured since 1998 to have a maximum carbon monoxide exhaust emission level of 2.1 g/km, reduced from the previous level of 9.6 g/km. Information surrounding all Victorian MVEGS between 1998-2002 was analyzed to determine whether suicides occurred in vehicles with the lower emission levels. Between 1998-2002, 607 suicides by this means were recorded while just 393 hospital admissions were recorded for the same period. Mean carboxyhaemoglobin levels were significantly lower in fatalities using vehicles manufactured from 1998, however suicide still occurred in these vehicles (n = 25). The extent to which the new regulations contributed to the relatively low rate of suicide in vehicles less than 5 years old compared to their frequency in the fleet remains unknown. Based on international experience and the age of the Victorian vehicle fleet, it may take well over a decade until substantial decreases in MVEGS are observed in the absence of active preventive measures.     

Legal and scientific probability of causation of cancer and other environmental disease in individuals

How to evaluate and apply probabilistic scientific evidence that cancer (or other diseases) have been caused by chemical substances (or other environmental agents) constitutes a critical problem which must be addressed by legal institutions. This article analyzes the basis of the current scientific concepts of causation and the means of incorporating epidemiological and statistical evidence of causation into the legal process, primarily with respect to cases of harm to individuals. Experiments with and adjustments of the legal system to effect an adequate accommodation of such probabilistic evidence are suggested.