Schizophrenia

...ba href=/schizophrenia/a/b, aggressive behavior Ronald Kotulak Published March 24, 2006 The discovery that the brain undergoes a second growth spurt during adolescence has potential implications not only for teen driving but also for other behavioral problems that have their roots in this period of development.

Just as bad experiences or the absence of proper stimulation can stunt a young child's brain during the first surge in brain growth, too much of the wrong kind of stimulation may adversely affect the vulnerable adolescent brain, researchers say.

For example, brain-imaging studies show that if normal, healthy adolescents are exposed to violent videos for a long time, they show similar neural network patterns in the areas governing emotions and self-control as youngsters who are chronically aggressive, according to two Indiana University School of Medicine researchers.

Viewing violent videos does not turn all adolescents into aggressors, of course.

But scientists now want to know what might make some youngsters more vulnerable to aggression after watching violent scenes.

"The brain is reacting biologically to the experiences that the teenagers are having," said clinical psychologist William Kronenberger, who worked with radiologist Dr.

Vincent Mathews on the study.

Heavy marijuana smoking also can restructure the adolescent brain in ways that are disturbingly similar to the neural pathways found in schizophrenics, said Dr.

Sanjiv Kumra and Dr.

Manzar Ashtari of the Albert Einstei...

...ba href=/schizophrenia/a/b." Rob Amen can be reached at ramen@tribweb.com or (412)-320-7982.

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...ba href=/schizophrenia/a/b, that he was on medication before he came to Laramie and that he is fine when on medication.“We are now trying to determine what the proper medication is,” said Wolf.

“Once he is on medication, we will withdraw the not triable by mental illness condition.”Wolf objected to the state’s request for mental evaluation.“The state hospital is the state,” said Wolf.

“That should be their evaluator.

They’re getting two shots at the apple; we’re only getting one.

It would be better if the state hospital just had a better psychologist.”District Court Judge Jeffrey Donnell granted Racines’ request because the statute specifies that each party can designate an examiner of their choosing.Racines then suggested that a psychiatrist was needed to determine a proper prescription for Smith, because psychologists can’t prescribe medicine.“At this point, I’m not going to do that,” said Donnell.

“Whether or not this court can make Mr.

Smith take medicine so that he’s competent to stand trial is an open question I have to research.

But I’m not comfortable with doing it right now.”After the state’s mental evaluation, Smith will have a competency hearing to see if he can stand trial, and if so, a trial date will be set.Wolf then tried to set a bond, as the state previously had not allowed one in anticipation that they would try the murder as a capital case, which they aren’t doing.“His only connection to the community is his son and his son’s mother,” said Wolf.

“I would like the court ...