A screening method for urinary methamphetamine--latex agglutination inhibition reaction test

Methamphetamine in urine samples from abusers was detected by the latex agglutination inhibition reaction test with latex-antibody (Latex-Ab) and latex-methamphetamine (Latex-MA) reagents. Anti-methamphetamine antibody was produced in rabbits by immunization with bovine serum albumin (BSA)-methamphetamine conjugate. Latex particles were coated with antibodies or with rabbit serum albumin (RSA)-methamphetamine conjugate to obtain Latex-Ab and Latex-MA reagents, respectively. The results are read at 4-5 min after mixing the latex reagents. The sensitivity of this method for methamphetamine was 0.4 micrograms/ml urine. Methamphetamine analogs (methylephedrine, amphetamine, phentermine, methoxyphenamine, ephedrine, beta-phenylethylamine, OH-methamphetamine, OH-amphetamine, and OH-ephedrine) all cross-react in varying degrees, while glucosiurea and albuminurea give false positive results in the tests. Though attention must be paid to these effects this simple and rapid test is suitable for the mass screening of urine samples.     

The psychodynamics of the presidential assassin and an examination of the theme/graphic variables of his threatening correspondence

A case of fatal Reye's syndrome presenting as the second sudden infant death in a family is described. The increasing interest in fatty change in the liver in cases of sudden infant death syndrome is noted and it is suggested that standardised interpretation of findings is essential if its significance is to be correctly evaluated.     

Attributions about perpetrators and victims of interpersonal abuse: results from an analogue study

This analogue study (written vignettes and videotapes) examines the influence of victim-perpetrator relationship (spouse or acquaintance), sex of perceiver, and type of abuse (psychological vs. physical) on attributions about victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse. College student participants (73 men, 108 women) were randomly assigned to condition. As expected, type of relationship influenced observer perceptions. Specifically, participants rated the victim of marital violence as more psychologically damaged and disturbed by the abuse than the victim of acquaintance violence. Furthermore, interaction effects showed that men, more than women, rated the actions of the married perpetrator as more of a victim's rights violation than the actions of the acquaintance perpetrator. Second, type of abuse was shown to influence perceptions of the perpetrator but not the victim. Sex-of-perceiver effects were also obtained. Women held the perpetrator more responsible and assigned less blame to the victim than did men. Legal and clinical implications are then discussed.     

Applying a forensic actuarial assessment (the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide) to nonforensic patients

The actuarial Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) was developed for male offenders where it has shown excellent replicability in many new forensic samples using officially recorded outcomes. Clinicians also make decisions, however, about the risk of interpersonal violence posed by nonforensic psychiatric patients of both sexes. Could an actuarial risk assessment developed for male forensic populations be used for a broader clientele? We modified the VRAG to permit evaluation using data from the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study that included nonforensic male and female patients and primarily self-reported violence. The modified VRAG yielded a large effect size in the prediction of dichotomous postdischarge severe violence over 20 and 50 weeks. Accuracy of VRAG predictions was unrelated to sex. The results provide evidence about the robustness of comprehensive actuarial risk assessments and the generality of the personal factors that underlie violent behavior.     

A comparison of nonviolent, psychologically violent, and physically violent male college daters

This brief report explores dating violence by comparing three groups of male college students (nonabusive, psychologically abusive only, and physically abusive). These men were compared on measures of impulsivity, problems with alcohol, life satisfaction, anger management skills, history of witnessing abuse, history of experiencing abuse, and relationship satisfaction. Data for this analysis were obtained from a sample of 115 male college students. Differences between the three groups of men were found in the levels of problems with alcohol, relationship satisfaction, and anger management skills. Anger management skills best differentiated the three groups of men leading to the conclusion that dating violence prevention and intervention strategies with male college students should address anger management skills.