重大犯人に認められる発作波出現低閾値の意義—とくに発作波と情動犯罪の関連性

Significance of Paroxysmal EEG Abnormality Observed in Felonious Offenders, with Special Reference to the Relationship between Affective Offence and Seizure Discharges

　棘波成分を含む発作性異常脳波が，安静時あるいは明らかな低閾値において出現し，しかも臨床発作のない犯罪者の7事例（殺人6，放火1）について，性格と犯行の特徴を論じ，責任能力を考察した。性格特徴としては，その傾向もあるものを含め7例中6例で爆発性が認められたが，その原因としてはてんかん性要因ばかりでなく間脳周辺の非特異的障害が考慮された。犯行の特徴としては情動からの犯罪が目立ち，2例が激情犯罪，他の2例が情動蓄積にもとづく犯罪と考えられた。このような例における発作波出現低閾値は，責任能力判定の場合，考慮すべき一要因として取上げるのが適当であると考え，臨床所見を重視する立場から各事例の責任能力を考察した。

　Electroencephalographic epileptic seizure discharges were observed in the resting record or on activation with a small dose of pentamethylenetetrazol (less than 150mg when 2% pentamethylenetetrazol solution was administered intravenously at a rate of 50mg per minute) in 7 offenders without clinical seizures (6 murderers and an arsonist-2 adults and 5 juveniles). Their personality traits, the nature of their offences and their criminal responsibilities were discussed.

　As to their personality traits, 6 of the 7 cases showed explosiveness. In 2 adult cases, this trait manifested itself strikingly, while in 4 juvenile cases it was found only as an inclination. Adhesiveness (the so-called typical epileptic personality trait) was observed only in a case (case 4). As to the pathogenesis of explosiveness, not only an epileptic mechanism but also unspecific thalamic and hypothalamic dysfunctions were suspected. As to the features of their crimes, affective offence was. prominent (4 out of 7 cases); 2 of them (cases 1 and 4) committed the offence in an explosive reaction (case 1 in abnormal drunkenness), and the other 2 (cases 5 and 7) were predisposed to offences through accumulation of affect. In 2 (cases 2 and 3) of the remaining 3 non-affective offenders, the offence was attributable to "affectionless psychopathy" (Schneider, K.). While 4 cases of affective offences were first offenders, all the cases of non-affective offences) had previously committed some other crimes or problem conducts.