Young criminal : With the social capital at stake

Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka varför en del ungdomar begår brott och vilka faktorer som kan ligga bakom. Genom att använda en kvalitativ metod i form av intervjuer med sex unga män med en tidigare kriminell bakgrund har vi försökt få svar på studiens syfte och frågeställningar. Intervjufrågorna har strukturerats in i olika delteman baserade på våra teoretiska utgångspunkter då vi velat fånga respondenternas livshistorier under deras kriminella karriär. Med utgångspunkt från Erving Goffmans (2011) teori om Stigma och teorier om det sociala kapitalets mörka sida har vi analyserat vårt empiriska material. Resultatet visar på hur strukturella och individuella faktorer såsom otrygga hemförhållanden, stigmatisering i skolan och umgänge med andra kriminella inom ett nätverk kan ha en inverkan på en ungdoms brottslighet. I vår slutdiskussion redogör vi för den effekt det kriminella nätverket hade på de unga männens sociala kapital och vilken hjälp de har fått eller inte fått från samhällets representanter.The essay is based on an examination of the individual- and structure-based perspectives that have been the reason why some young people choose to commit crimes and continue to maintain a criminal behavior during adolescence. The study is based on a qualitative study by interviewing six young men with criminal pasts. The aim was to gain insight into these young men's life-stories to understand what made them commit crimes and what sustained them in a life of crime. As authors, we were able to create a greater understanding, based on their life-stories and experiences, of their criminal behavior by the theoretical aspects such as the dark side of social capital and stigma. The results demonstrate how individual- and structure-based factors such as unstable family relationships, stigmatism at school and associations with other criminals can have an impact on young people’s tendency to commit crimes. In our final discussion, we describe how the criminal network impacted on these young men’s social capital and what help they received, or did not receive, by representatives of society

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults Using Methamphetamine: Does It Affect Comorbidity, Quality of Life, and Global Functioning?

Objective: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in adulthood, and it is associated with different high- risk behaviors, particularly substance use. Evidence suggests a high prevalence of ADHD in adults who take methamphetamine (METH). This study aimed at comparing functional level, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in METH users with and without adult ADHD (A-ADHD). Method: In this cross-sectional study, 134 patients who had a history of METH use (at least once in lifetime) were selected from among inpatient and outpatient referrals to a psychiatric hospital. DIVA was performed for those who were positive on the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales–Self-Report-Screening Version (CAARS-SR-SV). The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief (WHOQoL-BREF) were used to assess the participants’ level of functioning and quality of life, respectively. Psychiatric comorbidities including substance use disorders were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-Axis I (SCID-I). Results: Among the METH users, 10.4% were diagnosed as having A-ADHD. A-ADHD was more prevalent among female METH users than males. The hyperactive-impulsive and combined types were more common than the inattentive type. Opiates and cannabis were the most commonly abused drugs by the 2 groups, while sedative-hypnotic use was significantly higher in the individuals with A-ADHD. Substance-induced mood disorder was the most prevalent comorbidity in the 2 groups and was higher in those with A-ADHD. quality of life and the GAF scores were significantly lower in those with A-ADHD and duration of METH use was higher Compared to the METH users without A-ADHD, (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study provided some preliminary findings supporting the prevalence of Adult ADHD among METH users and its negative impacts on their global functioning and quality of life. To provide more effective intervention for METH users, detection and treatment of those with A-ADHD can be of clinical value

Fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography coronary angiography in the assessment and management of stable chest pain: rationale and design of the FORECAST trial

BACKGROUND: Fractional flow reserve measurement based on computed tomography (FFRCT) is a novel, well validated, non-invasive method for determining the presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) combined with a physiological assessment of vessel-specific ischemia in patients with chest pain. Previous studies indicate that FFRCT reduces the uptake of invasive angiography that shows no significant CAD, without compromising patient safety. The clinical effectiveness and economic impact of using FFRCT instead of other tests in the initial evaluation of patients with stable chest pain has not been tested in a randomized trial.METHODS: The FORECAST trial will randomise 1400 patients with stable chest pain to receive either FFRCT or routine clinical assessment as directed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) CG95 guideline for Chest Pain of Recent Onset. The primary endpoint will be resource utilisation over the subsequent nine months, including non-invasive cardiac investigations, invasive coronary angiography, coronary revascularization, hospitalization for cardiac events, and the use of cardiac medications. Key pre-specified secondary endpoints will be major adverse cardiac events, angina severity, quality of life, patient satisfaction, time to definitive management plan, time to completion of initial evaluation, number of hospital attendances, and working days lost in patients who are in employment.CONCLUSION: The FORECAST randomized trial will assess the clinical and economic outcomes of using FFRCT as the primary test to evaluate patients presenting with stable chest pain.</p