[Caffeine and smoking-induced changes in the behavior of car drivers]. / Niektoré zmeny správania vodica pod vplyvom kofeínu a fajcenia.

The authors examined changes in the behaviour of car drivers under the effect of coffeini matrii benzoici in doses of 250 mg (125 mg pure caffeine) and 500 mg (250 mg pure caffeine) in a single experimental group who had been exposed, prior to that, to a zero control experiment. The behaviour changes were examined immediately after the smoking of 5 cigerettes in a row. The experimental subjects' reaction was investigated using the determination set, their attention--using a modified Block test. 125 mg pure caffeine proved to have an excitatory effect on most of the group, with an overall improvement in performance, brightening up of mental processes, with the rate of mistakes dropping, attention and reaction improving in comparison with the proceding zero experiment. A dose of 250 mg caffeine had an inhibitory effect on most of the probands with the overall quality of performance deteriorating in all of the group; the quality of attention was worse, too, while reaction showed a moderate degree of improvement as a result of transfer. The experiment involving smokers after a dose of 5 cigarettes showed a deterioration in the capacity for concentration and a higher rate of errors in the performance of sensorimotor task while the reaction capacity remained normal.

[Delinquency in the sniffing-type of toxicomaniacs]. / Delikvencia u toxikomanov sniffingového typu.

The present investigation has been based on the study of 33 toxicomaniacs (average age 18 yrs 3 mos) who had committed a total of 156 delicts. A high percentage of injury to the central nervous system in infancy (84.8%) and disharmony of family and social environment (81.8% of cases), can be regarded as partially responsible for the low education of the whole group (45.55% of toxicomanics had not completed their basic education, only 18,2% were skilled workmen but also for the affinity to delinquency and toxicomany. The authors recognize two types of delinquency in toxicomaniacs. In the case of so-called purposive delinquency delicts are usually not committed under a direct influence of psychotropic drugs. The purpose is to obtain a new dose of the relevant drug, and the delicts include, e.g. breaking in drug-stores, stealing and falsification of medical prescriptions etc. Non-purposive delinquency of toxicomaniacs includes arson, affray, group delicts, agressive violence etc. Such delicts are committed under the direct influence of psychotropic drugs with the motivation of "harsh play" when the transpassers do not care the consequences of their delict.

[Forensic-psychological analysis of attempted suicides in toxicomaniacs]. / Forenzne-psychologický rozbor samovrazedných polusov u toxikomanov.

The authors examined 70 toxicomaniacs incl. 30 who attempted suicide at least one. They analyzed the motivation and causes which made the adolescent attempt suicide. The drastic manner of attempted suicide-cutting veins of the forearm and wrist predominated ans was recored in 56.6%. 83.3% attempted suicide during acute intoxication. Mild cerebral dysfunction was observed in 43.3% of those attempting suicide. Defective behavior was recorded in the case-history of 63.3%. In 80% of those attempting suicide the family and social environment was unfavourable. Dependence on psychotropic drugs for more than one year was found in 80% and polytoxicomania in 90% of the cases. Volatile psychotropic substances cause considerable deterioration of already existing changes of personality of encephalopathic or psychopathic origin; they act probably as "hasteners" or "catalyzers" and thus condition the motivation for suicide. This fact is important in particular for forensic psychology and expert opinions on cases of completed suicide.

[Analysis of motivation in attempted suicides of sniffing addicts]. / Analýza motivácie nedokonaných samovrázd u toxikomanov sniffingového typu

The authors examined a group of 30 addicts, each of whom had attempted a suicide, once at least, irrespective of the mode of performance. They analysed the motivation and the causes leading the adolescent addicts to suicidal attempts. The suicidal attempts were shown to occur under acute intoxication in 83.3 per cent of cases. Most frequently, the mode of the suicidal attempt was drastic, as e.g. cutting the antebrachial and the wrist veins in 56.6 per cent of cases. In 43.3 per cent of cases there occurred mild encephalopathies. A history of delinquent behaviour was recorded in 63.3 per cent of cases. Eighty per cent of the addicts originated from defective families or had other adverse social conditions. In 80 per cent addiction of psychotropic substances of more than one year duration was noted. Addiction of more than one drug was recorded in 90 per cent of cases. Most probably, volatile psychotropic substances act as "accelerators" in this connection, deteriorating the personality alterations of encephalopathic and psychopathic origin already present, thus conditioning the motivation of suicidal attempts. This finding may be of significance in aiding the forensic psychology and the medicolegal expertise of realized suicides.