Chapter 13 NEUROLOGICALLY-SPECIFIC BIOSOCIAL THEORIES

Chapter 13
NEUROLOGICALLY-SPECIFIC

BIOSOCIAL THEORIES

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Table 13.1. Results of the use of stimulant drugs in treating conduct disorders and symptoms of juvenile
delinquency. (Studies that call stimulant medications into question for treating CD and delinquency are listed after
a double slash.) (Note: Except for methylphenidate, it is not necessary to know the names of these drugs for
examination purposes unless your instructor states otherwise.)

Stimulant Drugs Type of Subjects Targeted Behavior Studies and Findings

methylphenidate conduct disordered children reduction of disruptive, acting out behavior Klorman 1988a; Barkley et al. 1989 //
(Ritalin) juvenile delinquents reduction of disruptive, aggressive behavior // Conners et al. 1971

Benzedrine sulfate & conduct disordered children reduction of disruptive, acting out behavior Conners & Eisenberg 1963; Eisenberg et al. 1965 //
reduction of disruptive, aggressive behavior Korey 1944; Eisenberg et al. 1963 //
dextroamphetamine

sulfate juvenile delinquents

Table 13.2. Results from studies that have sought relationships between the occurrence of subconvulsive (non-
epileptic) seizuring and criminal and/or violent behavior. (Shaded regions indicate where studies should be to be
consistent with seizuring theory.) (Consistency score = 100%)

Nature of the Criminal Behavior Impulsive Violence and Acting Out Behavior
Relationship Property In Nonhuman Animals

Violent Other In Humans

Positive NORTH NORTH AMERICA United States: Nuffield 1961; Sweet et al. MAMMAL Feline: Blum &
AMERICA United 1969; Kligman & Goldberg 1975; Lindsay et al. 1979; Wieser Liban 1960; Grossman 1963;
States: Martinius 1983; Devinsky & Bear 1984; Fenwick 1989; Lewis et al. Rodent: Pinel et al. 1977; Albert
1983(Case Study) 1989; Fenwick 1991 et al. 1992

Not Sign.
Negative

Table 13.3. Results of the use of anticonvulsant/antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of disruptive behavior, rageful
outbursts, and sudden fits of aggression. (Studies following a double-slash failed to failed to find a significant
treatment effect.) (Note: It is not necessary to know the names of these drugs for examination purposes unless your
instructor states otherwise.)

Drugs Type of Subjects Targeted Behavior Studies

Carbamazepine Conduct disordered children Reduction of aggressive behavior Tunks & Dermer 1977; Cassidy 1990; Kafantaris et al.
and episodic dyscontrol 1992; Sugarman 1992 //

Diphenylhydantoin Conduct disordered/attention Reduction of disruptive aggressive // Lefkowitz 1969; Looker & Conners 1970; Conner et
deficit children
behavior al. 1971

Propranolol (an epileptic medication Periodically violent mental Reduction of rageful and violent F.A. Elliott 1977; Yudotsky et al. 1981; Williams et al.
that is not always classified as an patients of various ages behavior 1982; Johnson 1984; Sheard 1984; Mattes 1988; Mattes
anticonvulsant) 1990 //

Valproate Periodically violent adult Reduction of irritability & Neepe 1983; Deltito 1993; Wilcox 1994; Wilcox 1995;
mental patients & conduct aggression Donovan et al. 1997 //
disordered children

Table 13.4. Evidence of hemispheric differences in thought and emotional processing. (Overall consistency score

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= 88.4%)

Nature of the Type of Thoughts and Emotions
Relationship

Spatial/Wholistic Reasoning (as Opposed to Act Impulsively (as Opposed to Negative/Unfriendly Emotions (as Opposed to Positive Prosocial Emotions)

Linguistic/Serial Reasoning) Attending to Details)

Right hemisphere NORTH AMERICA United States: Sperry EUROPE England: Wilkins et al. EUROPE England: Dimond et al. 1976
more involved 1982:1225; Chase et al. 1984; Duara et al. 1987; van den Broek et al. 1992 NORTH AMERICA United States: Bear & Fedio 1977:465; Alford & alford 1981; Morrow et al. 1981; Tucker
1984; Gazzaniga 1985; Jausovec 1985; NORTH AMERICA United et al. 1981; Davidson & Fox 1982; Landis et al. 1982; Bear 1983; Natale et al. 1983; Schaffer et al. 1983;
Rastatter & Dell 1987; CA Nelson et al. States: Heilman & Van Den Abell Hirskowitz et al. 1984; Robinson et al. 1984; EK Silberman & Weingartner 1986; Collet & Duclaux 1987; Fox &
1990 1980; Friedman 1988 Davidson 1988; Davidson & Fox 1989; Reeves et al. 1989; Davidson et al. 1990; Henriques & Davidson 1990;
Tomarken et al. 1990; Henriques & Davidson 1991; G Dawson et al. 1992; NA Fox et al. 1992; JJ Allen et al.
1993; Petruzzello & Landers 1994; Jacobs & Snyder 1996

No significant NORTH AMERICA United States: Nestor EUROPE Sweden: Perris et al. 1981
hemispheric & Safer 1990 NORTH AMERICA Canada: Flor-Henry & Koles 1984; United States: Cole & Ray 1985; Schellberg et al.
differences 1993

Left hemisphere more NORTH AMERICA United States: Wheeler et al. 1993
involved

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