Risk of harm: inmates who harm themselves while in prison psychiatric treatment

In this study, 242 randomly selected male offenders who were receiving psychiatric treatment in prison were administered psychological and neuropsychological evaluations and were followed during their treatment in a prison psychiatric hospital. Offenders who harmed themselves in treatment were compared to those who did not harm themselves. Eighteen percent of offenders harmed themselves, the severity of which required medical intervention. Young age, drug abuse, absence of Axis I mental disorder but presence of Axis II borderline personality disorder identified offenders who harmed themselves. Psychopathy checklist-revised (PCL-R) total rating > or = 30 and PCL-R Factor 2 (antisocial lifestyle) rating also identified offenders who harmed themselves. Additionally, offenders who harmed themselves also were 8.36 times more likely than their cohorts to harm treatment staff. Theoretical understanding of offenders who harm themselves, the importance of considering the environmental context in identifying risk factors for self-harm, and implications for treatment are suggested.     

What is 'a Great Power'?

This article rejects the idea that a great power requires formal recognition or 'general interests' or an inclination to 'responsible' behaviour. Contrary to Martin Wight, it also rejects the view that the demonstration of great military power in war is either a necessary or a sufficient condition of being a great power. It also denies, contrary to William T. R. Fox, that an ability to 'project' power worldwide is a necessary condition of being a great power (though it would, of course, be sufficient). On the basis of an investigation of the historical great powers, this article concludes that a great power is one whose reputation for existing or latent military strength may be equalled but not significantly surpassed by that of any other power.     

Standardized assessment of substance-related, other psychiatric, and comorbid disorders among probationers

This study examined the prevalence of alcohol- and substance-related disorders in a random sample of 627 adult probationers in Illinois. The investigation also explored the prevalence of major psychiatric disorders and their co-occurrences with alcohol and substance use disorders. To detect the presence of psychiatric disorders, researchers employed standardized assessment tools based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. Overall, results showed that probationers had significantly higher rates of psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders compared with persons in the general population. In light of these findings, probation administrators are urged to invest more resources in treating drug use, mental illness, and codisorders, the latter of which is associated with a higher risk of violent behaviors.     

Allele frequencies and haplotypes of six new Y-specific STR loci in Koreans

Six Y-specific STR loci, DYS434, DYS435, DYS436, DYS437, DYS438, and DYS439 were analyzed in 300 unrelated Korean males using single multiplex PCR system.     

Population genetics of nine STR loci: TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, vWA, FESFPS, F13A01, D13S317, D7S820 and D16S539 in a Korean population

Allele frequencies for nine STR loci namely, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, vWA, FESFPS, F13A01, D13S317, D7S820 and D16S539 were obtained from a sample of 437 unrelated individuals living in Chungcheong-do, South Korea.     

Institutions and the Growth of Knowledge: Evidence from International Environmental Regimes

This article argues that institutions not only reflect ideas prevalent at the time of their creation, but also play vital roles in driving the growth and dissemination of knowledge. Because institutions are not actors in their own right, however, it is essential to identify the mechanisms through which they influence the behavior of those who are producers and consumers of knowledge. The central section of the article explores three distinct mechanisms or families of mechanisms that come into play in this context:(1) framing the research agenda, (2) privileging certain types of knowledge claims, and (3) guiding the application of knowledge to specific policy concerns. The article's concluding section examines the policy implications flowing from the proposition that institutions play significant roles in creating knowledge regarding the issues they address. Throughout, observations relating to international environmental or resources regimes provide a source of illustrations.     

Understanding due discretion of judgment in Catholic marriage courts

Psychiatrists and psychologists provide consultation to the Catholic Church's marriage courts. Operating under the Church's legal code, these tribunals assess the validity of weddings that have ended in divorce. This report describes one of the standards used for this purpose, the lack of due discretion of judgment, which is concerned with the maturity, understanding, and appreciation that the couple brought to the ceremony. This normal capacity is vulnerable to various mental illnesses, which if present with sufficient severity may nullify the marriage vows as seen by the Church (though not necessarily by the state). Such a finding results in freedom to marry again despite the Church's ban on divorce, provided that due discretion of judgment is regained. Case examples and discussion of the assessment process for due discretion of judgment prepare the consultant to apply psychiatric findings to this unique and urgent legal issue.     

Developmental changes through adolescence in the spontaneous nomination of reference groups as a function of decision content

The achievement of behavioral autonomy and psychological independence from the family is one of the foremost developmental tasks of the adolescent. This aspect of adolescent socialization is examined with regard to the developmental trends in the individual's nomination of socialization groups as competent referents in different areas of judgment. Eighty subjects, distributed equally between sex and among samples drawn from the fifth, seventh, ninth, and twelfth grades, were interviewed and allowed to nominate spontaneously reference groups of their own choosing for guidance in moral, informational, and social judgments. A significant relation was found between the nomination of a particular reference group and the nature of the decision to be made. The distribution of reference group nominations among the grade levels sampled differed significantly in the case of informational and social judgments. With increasing age during adolescence, peers seemed to be a more acceptable source of information in matters of social judgment than either parents or adults outside the family. Adults outside the family, however, exhibited a marked increase in acceptability as a reference group for judgments of an informational nature. Parents seemed to be the most acceptable referent across all grades for moral judgments. The findings are viewed particularly in relation to the results of studies which have examined developmental trends in simulated group conformity situations and susceptibility to cross-pressures. The possible reasons for the different developmental phenomena revealed by this study and by the conformity studies are discussed.This article is based on a thesis submitted by the first author to Duke University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science with Distinction of Psychology.