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[Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>]

For more Stay Free! subscribe to the magazine:
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Hello,

Continuing on the attention-deficit theme, a few items
from the magazine have been added to the site:

An excerpt from the Journal of Modern Brain Damage
(copied below)
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/17/braindamage.html


Letters to the editor about ADHD:
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/17/adhd_letter.html
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/17/adhd_letter2.html

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SCIENCE FINDS THE ADHD CURE
An excerpt from the Journal of Modern Brain Damage
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/17/braindamage.html


INTRODUCTION

Although counseling is considered suitable for many adolescent behavior
problems, science has not demonstrated this to be true for Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Hinshaw, 1984). Inadequate results of
psychotherapies have necessitated a search for alternative treatments.
Harlow's seminal study found that chimpanzees overwhelmingly exhibited ADHD
symptoms (DSM-IV, 1994; see opposite page). Clinical studies of primate
responses to laboratory stimuli can therefore offer insight into possible
treatments.

METHODOLOGY

Clinical trials randomly selected 300 chimpanzees, all of which displayed
typical ADHD behaviors. To determine base response level for each primate,
subjects were strapped into an upright position and shown a 24-minute
segment of Three's Company ("Jack Gets a Workout"). Individual responses
were registered and measured in accordance to the scale Inappropriate
Clinical Trial Behavior (ICTB):

* Lateral eye movement
* Facial tics, grunts
* Inability to increase television volume
* Visible dislike of clinical researcher
* Lifts buttocks off seat
* Attempts to remove or damage rawhide leather belting

Individual ICTB scores were calculated to reveal a .475 group
average-approximately 1,932 inappropriate acts per chimp, per episode.
Subjects were then randomly divided into three groups of 20: Groups A, B,
and C. Each grouping was tested for responses to one of three experimental
treatments:

Group A: After the viewing, primates in this group received a swift blow to
the left brow with a concrete block (10 lb, 93 cubic centimeters). Subjects
were immediately returned to the main facility and measured during a second
screening ("Janet and the Englishman").

Group B: Same as Group A, but the blow to the left brow was preceded by
dropping a 2" x 4" wooden dowel from a set distance of 3.3 meters.

Group C: Primate received blows to both sides of the head, is lectured on
anger management, and rendered senseless through repeated strikes to the
base of the cranium.


ANALYSIS

Mean ICTB counts for each group were calculated. Subjects in Group A
displayed on average 1,652 Inappropriate Behaviors per segment for an index
of .397, or 349 fewer inappropriate acts from the initial finding. It
should be noted that while this represents a marked improvement over the
base level .475, it is unacceptable for the National Standardized Monkey
Norm.

Subjects in Group B fared better, with an average count of .317,
representing 588 fewer inappropriate acts. Improvements with this group
were visible even before secondary measurements were calculated: lateral
head jerks markedly declined, as did general body movements and aggression
toward research assistant. Chimps in this group were said to be "slower"
and were considered "more amenable to instructions."

Group C surpassed the other two groups on all counts. Inappropriate
behaviors dropped to an unprecedented low for an index of .001. Chimps in
this group were said to be "unconscious," while also "extremely manageable."


RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The preceding suggests promising possibilities for ADHD treatment. Few side
effects were reported in the two-hour span in which this study was
conducted. While subjects experienced a slight appetite reduction,
abdominal pain and bleeding rarely occurred. There were no reported
shoulder injuries.

While the implications of these results extend only to short-term benefits,
there is no evidence that this study has no benefit over the longer term.
On the contrary, Loney (1981) found that similar treatment was associated
with less drunk driving, less police contact, and better table manners.
-- Carrie McLaren

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OTHER LINKS OF NOTE

"Fast Finns Find Fines Fit Their Finances"
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/public/wsj_finland.html
In Finland, speeding tickets are levied on a sliding scale
based on the driver's income... so rich leadfoots may pay
as much as $71,400 for speeding. Great idea, eh? Where fines
serve as the main disincentive for breaking the law, it
makes perfect sense.


"PR Watch"
http://prwatch.org
The PR Watch site has back issues of their fine newsletter, as well as the
full text of MAD COW USA.


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For more Stay Free! subscribe to the magazine:
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/order.html