bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors and Correlates of Psychopathic Characteristics in Substance Abusing Adolescents
Authors: O'Neill MelanieL. , Lidz Victor , Heilbrun Kirk
Published: February 2012

This study retrospectively examined the predictors and correlates of 64 adolescents with psychopathic characteristics, as measured by scores on the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV), referred for treatment to a substance abuse program for adjudicated adolescents. First, we examined the variables of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, severity of childhood abuse/neglect, and severity of parental drug dependence in predicting psychopathic characteristics. Second, we investigated the association of psychopathic characteristics with substance use, drug trafficking, depression, and anxiety. Severity of childhood abuse and neglect significantly predicted psychopathic characteristics. Psychopathic characteristics were not associated with the correlates of substance use, depression, or anxiety. Implications for treatment and future research with adolescents displaying psychopathic characteristics are discussed.
“Stick and Stones Hurt my Bones but His Glance and Words Hurt More”: The Impact of Psychological Abuse and Physical Violence by Current and Former Partners on Battered Women in Italy
Authors: Baldry AnnaC.
Published: February 2012

Domestic violence causes short- and long-term negative consequences, both physical (e.g., bodily injury) and psychological (e.g., depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder). It is possible that these negative consequences vary according to the type of violence victims experience (physical versus psychological) and its duration, as well as the relationship with the offender. The present study investigated the relative contribution of psychological and physical abuse to the development of psychological symptoms in domestic violence cases. A sample of 145 women recruited from three shelters in Rome completed a face-to-face interview and a structured questionnaire measuring different types of abuse and psychological symptoms, as well as demographic variables. Multiple regression analyses revealed that psychological abuse was a stronger predictor of anxiety and depression, low self esteem, and intrusion/ avoidance symptoms than physical abuse, even though psychological and physical abuse experiences were highly correlated. Psychological symptoms were not associated with who committed the violence (husband or cohabiting partner) or whether the relationship was terminated or still ongoing. These findings have implications for mental health professionals who try to reduce the suffering of women who are abused.
Testing the Reliability and Validity of the Risk, Sophistication-Maturity, and Treatment Amenability Instrument (RST-i): An Assessment Tool for Juvenile Offenders
Authors: Leistico Anne-MarieR. , Salekin RandallT.
Published: February 2012

The current study investigated the reliability and validity of the Risk, Sophistication-Maturity, and Treatment Amenability Instrument, (RST-i) in a sample of 126 incarcerated adolescent males. Raters completed the RST-i, the Psychopathy Checklist-Youth Version (PCL-YV) and a reactive/proactive aggression form. In addition, data were gathered on treatment compliance and other relevant treatment variables. Intraclass correlation coefficients were high and convergent validity analyses yielded moderate coefficients with theoretically related constructs. Importantly, the RST-i was predictive of transfer to adult court. These results provide preliminary empirical support of the RST-i in relation to theoretically related clinical constructs and transfer decisions. Further research examining the interface of psychological and legal criteria considered in juvenile transfer cases is indicated.
Adjustment, Integration, and Quality of Life Among Forensic Patients Receiving Community Outreach Services
Authors: Gerber GaryJ. , Prince PamelaN. , Duffy Stephen , McDougall Linda , Cooper Janet , Dowler Susan
Published: February 2012

To date, there is little information regarding the adjustment of forensic patients living in Canadian communities. The present study describes the extent of integration and quality of life among fifteen forensic patients on Disposition Orders specifying conditional discharge living in a small Ontario community. All the respondents were clients of the Forensic Outreach Service based at the Brockville Psychiatric Hospital. Measures administered in face-to-face interviews included quality of life, community Integration, self-esteem, coping, ratings of problem behaviors, and a client satisfaction questionnaire. Results suggest a fairly stable picture of life for the respondents. They report feeling a sense of belonging in their community and appear to be satisfied with the quality and frequency of their social contacts, in spite of limited social integration. The Forensic Outreach Service represents an advance toward providing services to forensic patients that are currently available to other persons with psychiatric disabilities living in Canadian communities.
Can Persons with Co-occurring Disorders and Violent Charges Be Successfully Diverted?
Authors: Naples Michelle , Steadman HenryJ.
Published: February 2012

This study investigates how persons with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders with violent charges fare on key outcome measures at 12 months as compared to persons with non-violent charges participating in the same jail diversion programs. Among 650 diverted individuals interviewed at 12 months at seven sites of a multi-site jail diversion research study, 113 had violent intake charges. Selfreported outcome measures include arrests, arrests for violent offenses, violent acts, hospitalization and emergency room use. There were no significant differences on any outcome measures at 12 months. These findings suggest that excluding individuals with violent intake charges from eligibility for diversion programs is unnecessary on empirical grounds.
Staff's Choice of Formal And Informal Coercive Interventions In Psychiatric Emergencies
Authors: Wynn Rolf
Published: February 2012

When facing aggressive, violent, and self-harming patients, staff in psychiatric hospitals have to balance the need for patient and staff safety against the need to provide humane care and efficient treatment. In the present study, simulated case histories were used to examine which types of formal and informal interventions staff at a Norwegian psychiatric hospital prefer when caring for patients that are violent or self-harming. Continuous attention and evaluation of the use of the interventions subjected to formal control procedures (i.e. restraint and seclusion), as well as of a range of other interventions in use, represents an important means for securing improved care for violent and self-harming patients. The interventions available in such emergencies range from talking to patients to giving patients “time out” and using restraint and seclusion. Results demonstrated that staff chose the least restrictive interventions, and that restraint and seclusion were reserved for those situations where patients are actually violent and dangerous. The maximum restrictive interventions represent only a few of the interventions available to staff facing patients that behave dangerously. Increasing focus on other interventions than restraint and seclusion may help staff in choosing less restrictive interventions when this is clinically warranted and safe.
Legal Issues Affecting Mentally Disordered and Developmentally Delayed Youth in the Justice System
Authors: Mulford CarrieFried , Reppucci N.Dickon , Mulvey EdwardP. , Woolard JenniferL. , Portwood SharonL.
Published: February 2012

This article provides a review of the ways in which the legal system affects youth with mental disorders and developmental delays. Youth who suffer from mental disorders present a special challenge to the justice system, both in terms of identification and treatment. First, a brief history of the juvenile court is provided, with a special emphasis on the conflicting missions of the court. Then, the ambiguity surrounding legal definitions of mental illness is briefly examined. Next, case and statutory laws and other legal provisions for addressing mental health issues for juveniles are reviewed for each stage of justice system processing – intake/pretrial proceedings, waiver of jurisdiction, adjudication, disposition, and treatment/monitoring of placement. Policy recommendations include a mandated right to treatment for juveniles suffering from severe mental disorders, a nd the extension of competence requirements and the insanity defense to the juvenile court. Suggestions for future research are also identified.
Mental and Physical Health of Italian Youngsters Directly and Indirectly Victimized at School and at Home
Authors: Baldry AnnaC. , Winkel FransWillem
Published: February 2012

Internalizing symptoms, such as depression, anxiety/withdrawal, as well as somatic complaints are indicators of maladjustment. Mental and physical complaints may be related to victimization at home and at school. In the present study we investigated the independent impact of direct victimization at home (parental severe scolding and physical harming) and at school (i.e. peers physical and verbal bullying) and that of indirect victimization at home (i.e. exposure to interparental violence), and at school (exclusion, spreading rumors) on the development of internalizing symptoms in a sample of 661 Italian youngsters. Results revealed an overall high rate of reported victimization; direct and indirect victimization at home and at school were significantly associated with internalizing symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses, conducted separately for boys and girls, showed that the strongest risk factor for both boys and girls for all forms of internalizing symptoms is being indirectly victimized at school; for girls another significant risk factor is exposure to mother's violence against the father (for withdrawal); whereas for boys it is father's violence against the child predicting somatic complaints. Implications for mental health practitioners are discussed.
The Development and Implementation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Forensic Settings
Authors: Berzins LisaG. , Trestman RobertL.
Published: February 2012

As a result of deinstitutionalization, currently there are three times as many men and women with mental illness in U.S. jails and prisons than in mental hospitals. Appropriate treatment of this population is critical to safety within correctional institutions, successful integration of offenders into the community upon release and a reduction in recidivism. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), originally developed by Linehan for chronically parasuicidal women diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, has been adapted for many other populations over the past decade, including male offenders in correctional institutions. This article presents a rationale for use of DBT in a correctional environment and reviews DBT implementations in correctional settings in North America. Because all of the initiatives thus far have been driven by clinical need, there are no published adaptations of DBT modified for and generalizable to correctional settings.
Environment Contributors to Aggression in Two Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals
Authors: Daffern Michael , Mayer MaggieM. , Martin Trish
Published: February 2012

Studies examining aggression in psychiatric hospitals have focused primarily on the clinical and demographic characteristics of aggressive inpatients. Contextual contributors to aggression, while often acknowledged, have less often been the focus of research. This study considered the effects of aspects of physical environment on aggression. The opportunity to examine these environmental contributors to inpatient aggression arose from the closure of a forensic psychiatric hospital, the Rosanna Forensic Psychiatry Centre in April 2000, and the transfer of its patients to the Thomas Embling Hospital, a purpose built forensic psychiatric hospital in Victoria, Australia. A review of incident forms relating to aggressive behaviors during the final two years of operation of the Rosanna Forensic Psychiatry Centre and the first two years of operation of the Thomas Embling Hospital were compared. Results revealed a similar overall rate of aggressive behaviors although differences in the rate of aggression according to type of aggression and characteristics of the victim were evident. The results provide support for the contribution of contextual contributors in aggression and highlight the need for further research in this area.
The Adequacy and Accuracy of Sexually Violent Predator Evaluations: Contextualized Risk Assessment in Clinical Practice
Authors: Jackson RebeccaL. , Rogers Richard , Shuman DanielW.
Published: February 2012

A critical issue for public policy and professional forensic practice is whether Sexually Violent Predator commitment is an empirically-validated determination. Utilizing a mixed factorial design, forensic psychologists and graduate students were asked to make predictions about offenders' likelihood of future sexual violence and their appropriateness for Sexually Violent Predator commitment. Forensic psychologists demonstrated adequate application of the relevant psycholegal standard, but made accurate predictions approximately one half of the time. Surprisingly, graduate students demonstrated a greater ability to discriminate between types of violent behavior (nonsexual versus sexual), but applied the relevant legal standard with less precision than forensic psychologists. Finally, the current results suggest that emotionallyevocative information in the form of victim statements biased psychologists' and students' predictions of future sexual violence and resulted in students' increased support for the offender's involuntary commitment. Implications are discussed in terms of professional practice and admissibility of psychological testimony in Sexually Violent Predator commitment cases.
The Transfer of Juveniles to Adult Court in Canada and the United States: Confused Agendas and Compromised Assessment Procedures
Authors: Penney StephanieR. , Moretti MarleneM.
Published: February 2012

This article traces the evolution of the youth justice system in Canada and the United States and examines the practice of transferring juveniles to criminal court. Experts disagree about whether the goals of rehabilitation and retribution can be satisfactorily reconciled within the bounds of the juvenile system, and whether juvenile transfer significantly deters youth crime. Equally controversial is the appropriateness of exposing youth – who are in the midst of development – to the criminal system and to the possibility of receiving a lengthy adult sanction. We argue that it is neither efficacious nor ethical to transfer youth to adult court and deny them the protections afforded by the juvenile system. Concepts from developmental psychology, risk assessment, and juvenile psychopathy are integrated into this argument. Recommendations for policy and future research are noted, including a need to develop systematic guidelines that bridge legal and psychosocial constructs in the assessment of risk, amenability to treatment, and maturity of character in youth.
Predicting Institutional Adjustment with the Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form and Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles
Authors: Walters GlennD.
Published: February 2012

The Lifestyle Criminal Screening Form (LCSF) total score and the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) Reactive (R) scale both predicted subsequent aggressive disciplinary infractions in a group of 103 maximum security prison inmates but only the R scale successfully predicted total and nonaggressive disciplinary infractions in this group. Testing the incremental validity of these two measures it was determined that the LCSF failed to contribute significant unique variance to the prediction of disciplinary outcome when prior disciplinary record, age, and education were entered before the LCSF in a logistic regression analysis, but that the R scale successfully predicted total and aggressive disciplinary reports when entered into a logistic regression equation behind the LCSF, prior disciplinary record, and demographics (age, education).
The Concurrent Validity of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory and its Relative Association with Past Violence in a Sample of Insanity Acquittees
Authors: Kruh IvanP. , Whittemore Karen , Arnaut GenevieveL.Y. , Manley James , Gage Bruce , Gagliardi GreggJ.
Published: February 2012

The Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI; Lilienfeld & Andrews, 1996) is a reliable and valid selfreport measure of psychopathy that may be useful in conducting violence risk assessments with insanity acquittees. We examined the relations among the PPI, the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV; Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995), and measures of violence (officially recorded and self-reported). PPI Total and several Subscale Scores were significantly correlated with PCL:SV Total, Factor 1, and Factor 2 Scores, demonstrating concurrent validity of the PPI with insanity acquittees. PPI Total Scores predicted past violence about as well as PCL:SV Factor 2 Scores and the PPI and PCL:SV performed similarly in hierarchical multiple regression analyses predicting past violence. Implications for the relation between the PPI and PCL and implications for violence risk assessments with insanity acquittees are discussed.
Applicability, Reliability and Validity of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in Offenders with Intellectual Disabilities: Some Initial Findings
Authors: Morrissey Catrin , Hogue ToddE. , Mooney Paul , Lindsay WilliamR. , Steptoe Lesley , Taylor John , Johnston Susan
Published: February 2012

As a part of a larger study, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) was used to assess psychopathy in 203 individuals from three UK National Health Service settings for offenders with intellectual disabilities (ID): a high security hospital, a medium and low security hospital and a community based service. The PCL-R was rated from file review combined with a clinician interview. Internal consistency and inter-rater reliability were acceptable, and broadly comparable to that reported for other offender populations. The instrument was also associated in largely expected ways with level of security, and with measures of antisocial personality disorder, risk, and current behavioural functioning, providing some preliminary indications of convergent validity. However, further empirical investigation is required before the PCL-R can be used with confidence to make clinical and risk-based decisions in this population.
“Project HOPE” for Homeless Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental and Substance Abuse Disorders: Reducing Symptoms, Victimization, and Violence
Authors: Skeem JenniferL. , Markos Patricia , Tiemann Jenny , Manchak Sarah
Published: February 2012

Homeless individuals with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders are at high risk for victimization and violence, frequently cycle between the streets, jails, and emergency rooms, and are difficult to effectively treat because of their multifaceted problems. This study evaluates Project HOPE, an intensive, integrated outreach program for this population. We found that Project HOPE effectively enrolled a highly at-risk, symptomatic group of 69 clients in treatment. However, the majority (62%) of these clients discontinued treatment in less than three months. Those who completed Project HOPE showed remarkable improvement across several domains, including more stable housing, fewer psychiatric and substance abuse problems, and better relationships. In this first study of treatment-related changes in violence and victimization for this population, we found that victimization rates decreased from 67% to 16% and violence rates decreased from 46% to 20% with treatment. Implications for developing programs that better retain clients while effectively improving their symptoms, safety, and functioning are discussed.
The Psychiatric and Criminal Careers of Mentally Disordered Offenders Referred to a Custody Diversion Team in the United Kingdom
Authors: Dyer Wendy
Published: February 2012

Custody diversion teams were introduced in England in order to divert mentally disordered offenders away from the criminal justice system and custody because of concerns about the growing prevalence of psychiatric disorder in prison populations. This research explored the impact of one such team on the psychiatric and criminal careers of people referred to it. Time ordered cluster analysis was used to identify and map the different institutional careers experienced by people referred to the team and the different paths their careers took as a consequence of the team's actions. Five different types of career were identified. Careers One and Two describe experiences of offenders – violent offenders with no psychiatric history who were referred, assessed and diagnosed but had no health or social care needs identified and were not referred again. Careers Three and Four describe experiences of mentally disordered offenders – violent offenders with a psychiatric history half of whom (Career Three) were referred, assessed and diagnosed, had health or social care needs identified and were not referred again; the remainder (Career Four) were not assessed or diagnosed, nor did they have needs identified and consequently all were re-referred repeatedly. Career Five represents neither – individuals referred for information and for whom little else is known.
A Description of the Design and Costs of an Insanity Acquittee Conditional Release, Monitoring, and Revocation System
Authors: Dirks-Linhorst P.Ann , Linhorst DonaldM.
Published: February 2012

Conditional release, monitoring, and revocation are important components of insanity acquittee systems because they help to balance public safety with the treatment needs of insanity acquittees. We describe a state conditional release system within the United States that uses existing personnel to assess risk and make release decisions as another model for how to design and implement an insanity acquittee conditional release system. The State of Missouri's system had low costs per client associated with monitoring insanity acquittees in the community. However, substantial time commitments by actors in the mental health and criminal justice systems were required to ensure a high level of public safety in the release process. In addition, hospitalization was used extensively to protect public safety, which in part has resulted in insanity acquittees occupying approximately 50% of the state's long-term public psychiatric hospital beds. It is possible that other jurisdictions may be able to design insanity acquittee conditional release systems that still provide an acceptable degree of public safety yet do not incur some of the substantial costs associated with lengthy hospitalization and indefinite community oversight found in Missouri's insanity acquittee system.
Juvenile Competence to Stand Trial: A Historical and Empirical Analysis of a Juvenile Forensic Evaluation Service
Authors: Kruh IvanP. , Sullivan Lynne , Ellis Mesha , Lexcen Frances , McClellan Jon
Published: February 2012

Competence to stand trial is an increasingly important forensic mental health issue in juvenile courts. Few studies have examined samples of juveniles referred for competence evaluations. We retrospectively examined the characteristics of juveniles referred for competence evaluations to a publicly funded forensic service for juveniles in Washington State. Our sample had higher levels of psychopathology and incompetence than reported in previous studies. A high rate of agreement between examiners and judges competency opinions was found. In a subset of participants with complete data, we examined variables that discriminated juveniles found incompetent by judges from those found competent. Being found incompetent by the court was associated with being younger, intellectual impairments, special education placement, and a diagnosis of psychosis. Implications for juvenile competence examiners, researchers, and policy makers are discussed.
General Pressures to Adhere to Psychiatric Treatment in the Community
Authors: Redlich AllisonD. , Monahan John
Published: February 2012

We sought to determine the prevalence and the sources of pressures to keep appointments and/or to take medications among people receiving services in the community for serious mental illness. Self-report data from 1,011 adult outpatients from mental health centers located in five states were gathered. Current treatment pressures were found to be quite common: between 41 and 55% of patients experienced feeling at least one pressure to adhere to treatment in the past six months In addition, the average number of pressure sources was slightly more than three, with one-fifth of the sample experiencing pressure from six or more sources. Health service providers were the most frequent source of pressures, followed by family members and friends. These data add to a growing literature indicating that pressure and leverage are commonly used to induce treatment adherence in patients with mental illness.
Correctional Officers' Perceptions of Inmates with Mental Illness: The Role of Training and Burnout Syndrome
Authors: Lavoie JenniferA. , Connolly DeborahA. , Roesch Ronald
Published: February 2012

This study was designed to examine correctional officers' (COs') perceptions of offenders with mental disorders (MDOs) in relation to non-disordered offenders, patients with mental illness, and the general public as a replication of research conducted by Kropp, Cox, Roesch, and Eaves (1989). The objective was to investigate i) the nature of COs' perceptions and how they have changed over time, ii) the type of training officers receive to manage MDOs, and iii) the impact of training and burnout on perceptions towards the four target groups. Results indicated that while perceptions toward MDOs have become increasingly positive over time, this group continues to be viewed unfavorably relative to other non-incarcerated populations. Compared to non-disordered offenders, officers held more positive attitudes toward MDOs. Training specifically related to mental illness was associated with more positive perceptions of MDOs. Emotional exhaustion predicted poorer perceptions of MDOs. Depersonalization predicted poorer perceptions of non-disordered offenders. Officers advocated the need for supplementary training to effectively manage MDOs.
Judges' Risk Communication Preferences in Risk for Future Violence Cases
Authors: Kwartner PhylissaP. , Lyons PhillipM. , Boccaccini MarcusT.
Published: February 2012

The current study examined which types of risk communication messages and combinations of messages judges find most helpful in making decisions about risk for future violence. Seventy six judges from three Southern states responded to a mail survey asking them to rate the probative value of categorical, frequency, and probabilistic risk communication messages. An additional 40 judges completed the survey at a judicial conference. Approximately half of the judges made probative ratings for a high risk patient, while the remaining judges made ratings for a lower risk patient. Overall, the judges gave higher probative value ratings to the categorical risk message and reported that a combination of categorical and numerical messages would be most useful. Judges in the high risk condition were significantly more likely than those assigned to the low risk condition to rate the risk message as probative, regardless of the way in which it was communicated.
Predicting Recidivism in Sex Offenders Using the VRAG and SORAG: The Contribution of Age-at-Release
Authors: Barbaree HowardE. , Langton CalvinM. , Blanchard Ray
Published: February 2012

Sex offenders (N = 468) were released from custody and recidivism outcome recorded. The Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) and Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (SORAG) were scored for each offender. Results indicated that, for the majority of actuarial items contained in the VRAG and SORAG and for VRAG and SORAG bin scores, offenders with lower actuarial scores were released from custody at a significantly older age. Actuarial scores were regressed on age-at-release and residuals saved as age-corrected actuarial scores. Using ROC analysis, predictive accuracy was evaluated comparing original actuarial scores with age-corrected scores. For most item scores and both bin scores, the ability to predict recidivism was significantly reduced after the effects of age-at-release had been removed.
Towards Action-oriented Criteria in Risk Assessment
Authors: Klopf Johannes , Kofler-Westergren Birgitta , Mitterauer Bernhard
Published: February 2012

Autonomic measures move beyond self-reports of psychological functioning and may be less prone to bias and measure related errors. This study examined physiological reactions of 64 male offenders diagnosed as personality disorders. According to order by the local court they were subjected to an extensive psychological and neuropsychiatric assessment with regard to release decision making. The results show that violence risk of the PCL-SV, especially Factor 2 (antisocial life style), correlates with the characteristic physiological and cognitive deficits of psychopathy. The predictive relevance of these correlating deficits was also investigated and confirmed in a follow-up study. We conclude that the definition of a personality specific action and life style may be of great assistance in risk assessment. The role of the basal ganglia as neurobiological substrate is also discussed.
Time Use in Forensic Psychiatry: An Exploratory Study of Patients' Time Use at a Swedish Forensic Psychiatric Clinic
Authors: Sturidsson Knut , Turtell Inger , Tengström Anders , Lekander Mats , Levander Maria
Published: February 2012

Individuals who are treated in mandated forensic psychiatry often spend considerable amounts of time in inpatient treatment. In spite of the fact that there is prescriptive literature identifying how to treat offending issues and substance abuse the study found that treatment addressing this was scarce. The present study examined how time was used by mapping patients' time use in 48 randomly selected days. Information on activities from a 24 hour period divided into 15 minutes segments was recorded. In total, 122 different activities were found and they were grouped into 5 categories, sleep and rest, unstructured activities, daily routines, structured activities, and treatment. Average time use in the different categories was 9.07 hours of sleep and rest, 8.60 hours of unstructured activities, 4.42 hours of daily routines, 1.60 hours of structured activities, and 0.31 hours of treatment. No significant differences in time use on treatment between subgroups of individuals such as diagnoses of substance use, psychotic disorders, personality disorder or assessed as high or low violence risk were found.
Previous Involuntary Commitment is Associated With Current Perceptions of Coercion in Voluntarily Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Zervakis Jennifer , Stechuchak KarenM. , Olsen MarenK. , Swanson JeffreyW. , Oddone EugeneZ. , Weinberger Morris , Bryce ElenaR. , Butterfield MarianI. , Swartz MarvinS. , Strauss JenniferL.
Published: February 2012

Involuntary psychiatric treatment is sometimes necessary and beneficial, but may also exert negative effects. The impact of involuntary commitment on subsequent mental health treatment experience is poorly understood. We examined whether history of involuntary commitment was associated with current perceptions of coercion in a sample of voluntarily hospitalized veterans (N = 205). In adjusted analyses, perceived coercion during the voluntary admission was significantly associated with prior history of involuntary commitment (Rate Ratio = 1.60, p = .05). Perceived coercion was also higher among participants who were married/cohabiting (Rate Ratio = 1.83, p = .01) and among those with greater functional impairment (Rate Ratio = 0.97, p = .04). Although frequently unavoidable, the current results underscore the potential negative effects of coercive practices such as involuntary commitment, and support the importance of policies that aim to minimize coercive treatment experiences among psychiatric patients.
Measuring Progress in Hospital Order Treatment: Relationship between Levels of Security and C and R Scores of the HCR-20
Authors: Müller-Isberner Rüdiger , Webster ChristopherD. , Gretenkord Lutz
Published: February 2012

Although it is generally presumed that there will be an association between the levels of security at which clients are held in a forensic hospital and the formal ratings of violence risk ascribed to them, such a relationship is seldom demonstrated. One measure in this study was the security level of 218 inpatients held in a German forensic hospital. The other measure was the C- and R-score of the HCR-20 (CR-10). The results were clear in showing an orderly correspondence between the two measures (C-scale: r = .37; Rscale: r = .52). The CR-10 part of the HCR-20 seems to be a useful measure to gauge progress in forensic psychiatric inpatient treatment.
The Prediction of Imminent Aggression and Self-Harm in Personality Disordered Patients of a High Security Hospital Using the HCR-20 Clinical Scale and the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression
Authors: Daffern Michael , Howells Kevin
Published: February 2012

Drawing on recent advances in the violence risk assessment literature, this study tested the predictive validity of two structured measures designed to support risk related decision making, the HCR-20 and the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA), for the prediction of imminent aggression and self-harm in personality disordered patients of a high secure psychiatric hospital. For four months nursing staff completed daily assessments of patients using the DASA and the Clinical scale items from the HCR-20. On the following day they documented whether patients had behaved aggressively and/or self-harmed. Results revealed modest predictive validity, significantly better than chance, for both the prediction of imminent self-harm and aggression for both measures. Furthermore, these results suggest that personality disordered patients in a negative psychological state characterized by irritability, impulsivity and disagreeableness are at an increased risk of aggression and self-harm during involuntary psychiatric inpatient treatment and that this state is sensitive to structured risk assessment.
Detecting Denial of Severe Psychiatric Disorder: An MMPI-2 Investigation of Criminal Defendants
Authors: Kucharski L.Thomas , Tang Paul , Rosenfeld Barry
Published: February 2012

The ability of the MMPI-2 validity scales to differentiate mentally ill defendants who denied being mentally ill from mentally ill defendants who acknowledged their illness and those without mental illness was investigated. A stepwise logistic regression analysis (LGA) was utilized to identify the most parsimonious set of predictors among the MMPI-2 validity measures. The F and K scales and the Es-K index significantly differentiated the denying mental illness group from those acknowledging their psychiatric difficulties with a high degree of accuracy. An ROC curve utilizing the prediction scores from the LGA yielded an area under the curve of .89. An attempt to validate the model by differentiating the denial participants from those with no mental illness resulted in a marked decline in classification accuracy. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of the MMPI-2 in the detection of under reporting of psychiatric difficulties.
Temporal Relationship Between Psychotic Disorder and Criminal Offense: Review of the Literature and File Review Study
Authors: Goethals KrisR. , Fabri ValérieA. S. , Buitelaar JanK. , van Marle HjalmarJ. C.
Published: February 2012

During the past 15 years, a small body of literature has accumulated regarding the temporal relationship between schizophrenia and crime. Many forensic patients have a history of psychiatric care before committing an offense, but such care was often inadequate. Comorbid disorders such as substance abuse and an antisocial personality disorder and/or psychopathy may be responsible for earlier referral of psychotic patients to psychiatric care in connection with the resultant early behavioral problems. In connection with the inadequate care for forensic patients, it is possible that a period of untreated psychosis occurs more often and is of longer duration. The purpose of the present study was to assess these findings. We considered three groups: two groups of forensic patients with a psychotic disorder, with or without a comorbid personality disorder, who have committed a serious violent offense, and a third group of psychotic patients from the general psychiatric population who have not committed a serious violent offense. Retrospective data were collected and the sociodemographic, substance abuse, diagnostic (DSM-IV) and psychiatric history variables were compared. The score on the PCL-SV was taken into account. Psychotic patients detained under the Dutch Entrustment Act (i.e., TBS-detainees) with a comorbid personality disorder began their psychiatric career before committing a violent offense. A long time was found between the first admission and the TBS-offense. Psychopathy and substance abuse influenced these intervals. No difference was found between psychotic TBS-detainees and psychotic patients in general psychiatry with regard to the duration of untreated psychosis. The recognizability of the various groups of psychotic patients in general psychiatry could have a preventive effect if the comorbidity is examined.
Schema Focused Therapy in Forensic Settings: Theoretical Model and Recommendations for Best Clinical Practice
Authors: Bernstein DavidP. , Arntz Arnoud , Vos Marijede
Published: February 2012

Until recently few empirically supported treatments for patients with personality disorders were available. Schema Focused Therapy (SFT) has recently shown efficacy in (non-forensic) outpatients with Borderline Personality Disorder, raising the question if it may also be effective in forensic PD patients. For the past two years, we have been collaborating with Dutch forensic hospitals to adapt the SFT approach to meet the challenges posed by this population. In this article, we present our forensic modification of the SFT theoretical model, and make recommendations for the implementation of SFT in forensic clinical practice.
Differences of Legal Regulations Concerning Involuntary Psychiatric Hospitalization in Twelve European Countries: Implications for Clinical Practice
Authors: Kallert ThomasW. , Rymaszewska Joanna , Torres-González Francisco
Published: February 2012

This article compares civil law issues associated with involuntary hospitalization in psychiatric establishments of 12 European countries, and comments on differences important for clinical practice. A cross-validated methodology based on original legal texts was used. Major cross-national differences appeared for basic conditions as well as additional criteria for involuntary admission, time periods for making decisions, the association between involuntary placement and treatment, patients' rights to register complaints, roles of relatives, and safeguard procedures of these processes. Suggestions for cross-national harmonization focus on: simplification of the legal decision process, standardization of time periods for judicial decisions, transparency of regulations to lodge appeals and to involve persons from the patient's environment into the judicial procedures, and establishment of permanent and active monitoring of safeguard measures.
Different temperature dependence of excitonic and defect-related photoluminescence spectra in ZnS nanobelts and nanowires
Authors: Wang H Y , Wang C R , Xu J , Liu X , Xu X F , Xing H Z , Zhao L J , Chen X S
Published: February 2012

In this paper, both excitonic and defect-related information of ZnS nanobelts and nanowires have been investigated by a temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. PL spectra of ZnS nanobelts and nanowires differ significantly in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible emission regions. In UV emission regions, due to high-quality crystals, free exciton B (FXB), free exciton A (FXA), FXA-one longitudinal optical (LO) phonon replica are observed in ZnS nanobelts, as well as free-to-bound (e, A) with its one LO phonon replica, while neutral-donor bound exciton (Do, X) and free-to-bound (e, A) are observed in ZnS nanowires at 10 K. The peak and relative intensity of the FX and (Do, X) versus temperature follow well with conventional empirical relations. In the visible emission regions, weak donor–acceptor pair (DAP) and self-activated (SA) emission from ZnS nanowires are commonly observed, but the Y band emission is only observed at 10 K in ZnS nanobelts. The Y band emission disappears at some temperature lower than 50 K. The peak position and full width at half maximum of DAP and SA emission bands display different temperature dependences. Detailed study on temperature-dependent PL spectra of ZnS nanobelts and nanowires provides crucial information on the nature of the electronic states and recombination mechanisms in these nanostructures.
(Pentane-2,4-dionato-κ2O,O′)(pyridin-2-amine-κN1)copper(II) and (pentane-2,4-dionato-κ2O,O′)(pyrimidin-2-amine-κN1)copper(II)
Authors: Perdih Franc
Published: February 2012

The title compounds, [Cu(C5H7O2)2(C5H6N2)], (I), and [Cu(C5H7O2)2(C4H5N3)], (II), were prepared by the reaction of bis(pentane-2,4-dionato-κ2O,O′)copper(II) with pyridin-2-amine and pyrimidin-2-amine, respectively. From a chemical point of view, it is interesting that no Schiff base formation was observed. The compounds are isostructural, with both having a square-pyramidal coordination of the CuIIatom and intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonding. The additional N atom of the pyrimidin-2-amine ligand is not involved in hydrogen bonding or in metal coordination. In the crystal structure, chelate rings are involved in π–π interactions and molecules of (I) are linked togetherviaN—H...O hydrogen bonds.
Antidiarrhetic loperamide hydrochloride
Authors: Brüning Jürgen , Podgorski Dragica , Alig Edith , Bats Jan W. , Schmidt Martin U.
Published: February 2012

Single crystals of the anhydrous form of the title compound {systematic name: 1-[3-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-3,3-diphenylpropyl]-4-hydroxy-4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperidin-1-ium chloride}, C29H34ClN2O2+·Cl−, were obtained by diffusion of acetone into a solution in 2-propanol. In the structure, N—H...Cl−and O—H...Cl−hydrogen bonds connect neighbouring molecules and chloride anions to form chains along thec-axis direction. Neighbouring chains along theb-axis direction are connected by intermolecular C—H...Cl−contacts, defining layers parallel to the (100) planes. The layers are connected by weak intermolecular C—H...Cl interactions only, which may account for the plate-like shape of the crystals.
Trimethylurea
Authors: Döring Cindy , Taouss Christina , Jones Peter G.
Published: February 2012

The title compound, C4H10N2O, crystallizes with two independent molecules in the space groupCmc21. The first molecule lies in a crystallographic mirror plane withx= 0, whereas the second molecule lies on a general position withx≃ 1 \over 3. Each molecule forms classical N—H...O=C hydrogen bonds, thereby leading to chains of molecules parallel or antiparallel, respectively, to the polarcaxis.
Childhood and adolescent psychopathology and subsequent tobacco smoking in young adults: findings from an Australian birth cohort
Authors: Fischer Jane A. , Najman Jackob M. , Williams Gail M. , Clavarino Alexandra M.
Published: February 2012

Aims  To examine whether child and adolescent psychopathology predicts subsequent tobacco use at 14 and 21 years of age.

Design  Prospective birth cohort study.

Setting  Data are taken from the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes (MUSP), a prospective longitudinal study which recruited women at their first antenatal visit in Brisbane, Australia.

Participants  A 5‐, 14‐ and 21‐year follow‐up of children whose mother's were recruited into the MUSP birth cohort study at their first antenatal visit.

Measurements  Psychopathology exposure was measured using the Achenbach's Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) at 5 years, the Youth Self Report (YSR) at 14 years and the Young Adult Self Report (YASR) at 21 years. Outcome measures were the children's tobacco smoking status at the 14 and 21 years' follow‐up and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) based DSM‐IV nicotine dependence at 21 years' follow‐up.

Findings  Externalizing symptoms had the strongest association with subsequent tobacco use. Children who met the criteria for CBCL aggression at 5 years were more likely to be tobacco smokers at the 14‐year follow‐up. YSR externalizing behaviours at the 14‐year follow‐up predicted tobacco smoking, but not DSM‐IV nicotine dependence at the 21‐year follow‐up. Internalizing behaviour (anxiety/depression) was associated with a reduced rate of smoking at the 14‐ and 21‐year follow‐ups, but externalizing behaviour and attention problems at 14 and 21 years were associated separately and cumulatively with nicotine dependence at the 21‐year follow‐up.

Conclusion  Childhood and adolescent psychopathology predict tobacco smoking, but some forms of psychopathology predict increased (aggression/delinquency; attention problems) and other forms decreased (anxiety/depression) smoking. There may be some benefits in targeting children with early onset aggressive/delinquent behaviour problems with tobacco smoking prevention initiatives.
Description and quantification of pteropod shell dissolution: a sensitive bioindicator of ocean acidification
Authors: Bednaršek Nina , Tarling Geraint A , Bakker Dorothee CE , Fielding Sophie , Cohen Anne , Kuzirian Alan , McCorkle Dan , Lézé Bertrand , Montagna Roberto
Published: February 2012

Anthropogenic ocean acidification is likely to have negative effects on marine calcifying organisms, such as shelled pteropods, by promoting dissolution of aragonite shells. Study of shell dissolution requires an accurate and sensitive method for assessing shell damage. Shell dissolution was induced through incubations in CO2‐enriched seawater for 4 and 14 days. We describe a procedure that allows the level of dissolution to be assessed and classified into three main types: Type I with partial dissolution of the prismatic layer; Type II with exposure of underlying crossed‐lamellar layer, and Type III, where crossed‐lamellar layer shows signs of dissolution. Levels of dissolution showed a good correspondence to the incubation conditions, with the most severe damage found in specimens held for 14 days in undersaturated condition (Ω ~ 0.8). This methodology enables the response of small pelagic calcifiers to acidified conditions to be detected at an early stage, thus making pteropods a valuable bioindicator of future ocean acidification.