Empirical Limits for the Forensic Assessment of PTSD Litigants

This paper discusses the limits of expert opinion on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in personal injury claims. The construct of PTSD is hampered by several empirical limitations. Multiple reliable measures of PTSD exist, but have not been evaluated sufficiently within litigating samples and are infrequently used by forensic assessors. Common methods for trauma screening appear insensitive. Opinions about causation of PTSD and disability are complicated by retrospective memory biases, as well as the failure of most anxiety disorders to be detected within primary medical care. PTSD appears to have a steep spontaneous remission curve during the first year, but at least 10% of trauma-exposed people suffer chronic distress. Little is known about the course beyond 1 year. Efficacious psychological treatments have been developed for PTSD, but are not in common use limiting claimants access to rehabilitative treatments. Research on functional disability associated with PTSD is in its infancy, but it seems likely that PTSD will account for only a part of the variance in work disability. We provide suggestions for improving forensic practice, advising the courts about the limitations of forensic opinions, and necessary research.     

治理信用缺失的法律责任制度设计

导致我国信用缺失的最根本原因是法律责任制度的不完善.健康的市场经济必须要有完善合理的信用法律责任制度来维系.我国现行的信用法律责任制度的缺陷表现为设定缺乏、设置非适度和规定的缺位.只有从多角度综合运用各种责任形式,进行完善的信用责任制度设计才能最终为市场经济的发展保驾护航.     

Oppositional defiant disorder: A systematic review of evidence of intervention effectiveness

This research synthesis examines rigorous evaluations of interventions for children diagnosed with ODD. The primary goal was to identify and synthesize through meta-analysis what is known regarding the effectiveness of various treatments. A secondary goal was to assess the degree to which treatment effectiveness is being evaluated in multiple domains. Seven studies were identified that measured outcomes in six domains. As in prior reviews, interventions demonstrate improvements in the child’s behavior at home and parental stress/strain. Support for improvements in behavior and performance in school is not as strong due in part to a scarcity of attention to the multiple domains of functioning. The interventions reviewed here demonstrate some benefit and no harm; however, there is room to strengthen the research base.     

PTSD Symptoms Experienced and Coping Tactics Used by Crime Scene Investigators in the United States

Few investigations have assessed the prevalence of posttraumatic stress experiences among Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs). We recruited a nationwide sample of 225 CSIs to complete online questionnaires assessing PTSD symptoms, use of specific coping tactics, perceived social support, trait resilience, and demographics. Seven symptoms had been experienced by at least 50% of participants during the previous month, and 9.3% had total checklist scores suggestive of PTSD. A significant regression analysis revealed that higher PTSD scores were associated with drinking alcohol more frequently to deal with stress, admitting more frequently one could not deal with stress and not trying to do so, lower social support, getting angry and letting emotions out more frequently, lower resilience, and finding comfort in one's religious beliefs. Given the proportions of CSIs that experience exposure‐related stress, more should be done to mitigate the prevalence and severity of these symptoms.     

关于精神障碍者犯罪及受审问题的探讨

当今社会,精神疾患比率越来越高,精神障碍者犯罪也呈上升趋势。在侦查讯问过程中,通过犯罪嫌疑人对其犯罪的供述,分析其犯罪动机及其他们对犯罪的认识问题,来判断是否符合精神障碍者犯罪的特点,并依据法律的规定和要求对案件进行处理,是非常必要的。     

精神障碍吸毒者刑事责任能力研究

随着毒品在我国的蔓延,吸毒的人数渐渐增多,精神障碍的吸毒者犯罪也开始引起相关部门的注意,对这一特殊犯罪人群能否比照精神病人来处理意见不统一。笔者介绍了其他诸国的相关法律规定,结合本国国情和相类似的法律规定,阐明了对精神障碍的吸毒者犯罪一般作完全刑事责任能力评定为最优的观点。     

220例损伤导致精神障碍损伤程度的法医学鉴定

研究损伤导致精神障碍损伤程度的评定标准。对 1986年 7月～ 2 0 0 0年 7月受理的精神损伤司法鉴定 2 2 0例资料进行回顾性研究。结果显示 :男女比例无差异 ;以中青年组居多 (占 5 5 % ) ;职业以工人、农民多见 ,损伤原因多为伤害和交通事故 (占 82 % ) ;鉴定时间以 1年内为佳。损伤与精神障碍间有直接因果关系者 110例 ,有间接因果关系者 6 9例 ,两者间条件相关者 35例 ,无相关者 6例。对有相关关系的 2 14例作损伤程度评定 ,重伤 91例 ,轻伤6 8例 ,仅就伤病关系作出评定者 5 5例。损伤导致精神障碍的损伤程度应具体案情具体分析 ;对颅脑外伤所致神经症的损伤程度评定提出可操作性的意见。     

克拉申二语习得理论对高职高专英语听力课堂教学的启示

输入假说和情感过滤假说是克拉申二语习得理论的主要核心内容,这一假说认为大量的可理解性输入是学习外语的重要条件。依据克拉申的这一理论,教师要根据高职高专英语学习者的特点,注重英语听力材料选择的科学性,改革不合适的英语听力课堂教学方法,以提高学生的听力水平。     

脑器质损伤后情绪障碍的ERP研究进展及法医学意义

颅脑损伤是导致精神损伤的重要因素,其中情绪障碍是最常见的精神症状,目前一般采用量表进行评价,缺乏可靠的客观指标。近年来采用事件相关电位(ERP)技术对情绪相关的脑电活动特征进行的研究逐步增加,该技术可能是揭示大脑的情绪加工机制的有效手段。本文综合介绍情绪相关ERP检测范式,及与情绪加工相关的N170/VPP、P2、P300、LPP、EML等ERP成分的特征与意义,希望能为在法医学鉴定中采用ERP检测情绪障碍提供参考和借鉴。     

Psychological distress and severity of personality disorder symptomatology in prisoners convicted of violent and sexual offences

Abstract

Background: There have been recent proposals in England and Wales to develop services aimed at reducing the risk to the public posed by offenders with so-called “severe personality disorder”. The emphasis of the proposals is on risk. However, prisoners with personality disorder may have psychiatric treatment needs other than those purely relating to public protection. The aim of the study was to examine the association between severity of self reported personality disorder pathology and psychological distress in serious offenders.

Method: All male prisoners in two prisons, convicted of violent or sexual offences, were sent the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4+(PDQ?4+) and the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R).

Results: High levels of self reported personality pathology were associated with high levels of psychological distress.

Conclusions: Offenders with the most severe self reported personality disorder pathology experience distress that may be clinically significant. Services for offenders with personality disorder will need to address their associated psychiatric symptoms.