2.4.1.4 - Biochemical processes

• Neurochemicals influence the brain's chemistry by diet
• Virkkunen et al. (1987) found that violent offenders had a lower than average serotonin turnover
• Schoenthaler (1982) found that a reduced sugar diet reduced anti-social behaviour by 48%
• Neurochemical research as had an impact on prisoners and now all prisons aim to provide balanced healthy diets
• Alcohol abuse can be treaed with Antabuse which is used in aversion therapy to treat alcholism
• Antabuse is works by preventing the body from breaking down alcohol causing unbearable hangover symptoms even if taken in small amounts
• Antabuse is most effective when combined with support therapy and recovery meetings
• Antabuse work but not for everyone as it does not cause the craving and relies purely on being a deterent
• Methadone is used in therapy for heroin addicts as a long term alternative to heroin or to prevent withdrawal symptoms
• By providing a legal, medically controlled substance, Methadone helps reduce crime
• Sex offenders are given Stilbestrol as a form of chemical castration that has been used in prisons to treat male prisoners with sexual offences
• Stilbestrol is a female hormone that suppresses testosterone as a way of reducing men's sex drive
• Whatton prisons pilot scheme the treatment was positively received b the volunteer prisoners
• Stilbestrol can have some side affects including breast development, feminisation, and serious psychiatric disorders