Katie A. Busch

Suicide: A Four-pathway Clinical-Biochemical Model

Abstract This chapter, based on a review of recent research as well as data presented in this report, proposes four hypothetical pathways leading to suicide in clinical depression: (1) an acute pathway involving severe anxiety/agitation associated with high brain corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF or CRH) levels, (2) trait baseline and reactivity hopelessness, (3) severe anhedonia, and (4) trait impulsiveness associated with low brain serotonin turnover and low total cholesterol as a possible peripheral correlate.

The Study of Multiple Murder Preliminary Examination of the Interface Between Epistemology and Methodology

Cases of multiple murder stimulate intense feeling in both the public and scientific community. Because of this highly charged emotional climate and the statistical difficulties inherent in predicting low base rate behaviors, this topic has been difficult to evaluate scientifically. This article reviews the literature on multiple murder from dual perspectives of how knowledge is developed and major methodologic problems encountered in accruing such knowledge.

Cocaine--review of current literature and interface with the law

Cocaine use in the United States has currently reached epidemic proportions. This has resulted in syndromes of intoxication, overdose, and withdrawal, meeting all DMS-III criteria for a substance that can cause dependence as well as abuse syndromes. This paper reviews the current epidemiology of cocaine, its history and pharmacology with major focus on clinical syndromes. This is followed by a review of the current knowledge of the relationship between cocaine and violence and the forensic-psychiatric issues surrounding cocaine.

Somatic Treatment of Psychiatric Symptoms in HIV Disease

In June 1981, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published an account of five homosexual men infected with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).1 As case reports mounted of PCP, of previously rare Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), and of other opportunistic infections,2 the symptom cluster was given the name acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In 1983, a retrovirus was isolated that is currently believed to be etiologic in AIDS, which now carries the official name human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). After a brief introduction on HIV illness in general, we review the literature to date on its neuropsychiatric aspects, with a major focus on the complicated diagnostic and treatment issues at this interface. Psychosocial issues3,4 so essential in treatment, are described elsewhere in this volume and are beyond the scope of this chapter.