Not guilty of murder by reason of paroxysmal insanity: The “mad” doctor vs. “common-sense” doctors in an 1865 trial

In July 1865, the Harris/Burroughs trial marked the first time in a U.S. court-room that expert medical testimony supported a plea of paroxysmal [temporary] insanity in amurder defense. Furthermore, the medical expert [mad doctor] was pitted against common-sense physicians. Forensic rationales and societal reactions of the 1860s appear to be remarkably similar to what happens in the 1990s. By merely changing the antebellum language, the arguments and ripostes could readily be recycled into current temporary insanity confrontations. Sociocultural aspects of the Harris/Burroughs murder case may yield clues as to the persistence of the forensic and attitudinal stances toward temporary insanity pleas by the mass media, the physicians, the legal profession and the public.Allen D. Spiegel, Ph.D., M.P.H., is Professor, Preventive Medicine and Community Health, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, College of Medicine. Merrill S. Spiegel, J.D., is Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Rick Boucher [VA].     

Exercise,Fitness, and Neurocognitive Function in Older Adults: The “Selective Improvement” and “Cardiovascular Fitness” Hypotheses

Background   Although basic research has uncovered biological mechanisms by which exercise could maintain and enhance adult brain health, experimental human studies with older adults have produced equivocal results. Purpose   This randomized clinical trial aimed to investigate the hypotheses that (a) the effects of exercise training on the performance of neurocognitive tasks in older adults is selective, influencing mainly tasks with a substantial executive control component and (b) performance in neurocognitive tasks is related to cardiorespiratory fitness. Methods   Fifty-seven older adults (65–79 years) participated in aerobic or strength-and-flexibility exercise training for 10 months. Neurocognitive tasks were selected to reflect a range from little (e.g., simple reaction time) to substantial (i.e., Stroop Word–Color conflict) executive control. Results   Performance in tasks requiring little executive control was unaffected by participating in aerobic exercise. Improvements in Stroop Word–Color task performance were found only for the aerobic exercise group. Changes in aerobic fitness were unrelated to changes in neurocognitive function. Conclusions   Aerobic exercise in older adults can have a beneficial effect on the performance of speeded tasks that rely heavily on executive control. Improvements in aerobic fitness do not appear to be a prerequisite for this beneficial effect.

The Impact of the Great Recession on Community-Based Mental Health Organizations: An Analysis of Top Managers’ Perceptions of the Economic Downturn’s Effects and Adaptive Strategies Used to Manage the Consequences in Ohio

The Great Recession of 2007–2009 adversely affected the financial stability of the community-based mental health infrastructure in Ohio. This paper presents survey results of the type of adaptive strategies used by Ohio community-based mental health organizations to manage the consequences of the economic downturn. Results were aggregated into geographical classifications of rural, mid-sized urban, and urban. Across all groups, respondents perceived, to varying degrees, that the Great Recession posed a threat to their organization’s survival. Urban organizations were more likely to implement adaptive strategies to expand operations while rural and midsized urban organizations implemented strategies to enhance internal efficiencies.     

A Review of: “The Prevention of Eating Problems and Eating Disorders: Theory,Research, and Practice”

Abstract

This study examines one possible source of social pressure regarding body shape and weight, and relationships with family, friends, and acquaintances, It compares the reported existence and influence of such pressure in a group of eating disorder patients and a community sample. Female subjects as a whole were significantly more likely than males to report that other persons influenced their body shape- and weight-related attitudes and behaviors, and it appears that females are much more likely than males to receive negative criticism of their bodies. It is suggested that research on the role of personal relationships in both the prevention and treatment of eating disorders may be worthwhile.