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Jeung-Maarse H, Schmitgen MM, Schmitt R, Bertsch K, Herpertz SC. Oxytocin effects on amygdala reactivity to angry faces in males and females with antisocial personality disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:946-953. [PMID: 36941365 PMCID: PMC10156793 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01549-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala is a key region in current neurocircuitry models of reactive aggression as it is crucially involved in detecting social threat and provocation. An increased amygdala reactivity to angry faces has been reported in aggression-prone individuals and the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) could dampen anger-related amygdala reactivity in a number of mental disorders. One example is the antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) which has so far only been studied in limited numbers. To address the question whether OT can normalize amygdala hyperreactivity to emotional faces, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment with 20 men and 18 women with ASPD and 20 male and 20 female healthy control (HC) participants in a double-blind, randomized, placebo (PLC)-controlled within-subject design. Participants were exposed to an emotion classification task (fearful, angry, and happy faces) after receiving an intranasal dose (24 IU) of synthetic OT or PLC. We found OT to attenuate right amygdala hyperactivity to angry faces in participants with ASPD to such an extent that the intensity of amygdala activity in the ASPD group in the OT condition decreased to the level of amygdala activity in the PLC condition in the HC group. There was also a trend that OT effects were generally larger in women than in men. These findings suggest that OT differentially modulates the amygdala following social threatening or provoking cues in dependence of psychopathology (ASPD vs. HC) and sex (male vs. female). Particularly female ASPD patients could benefit from OT in the treatment of reactive aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haang Jeung-Maarse
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel (EvKB), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Mike M Schmitgen
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ruth Schmitt
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Bertsch
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine C Herpertz
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Zhao Z, Yu X, Ren Z, Zhang L, Li X. The remediating effect of Attention Bias Modification on aggression in young offenders with antisocial tendency: A randomized controlled trial. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2022; 75:101711. [PMID: 34923371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2021.101711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES An attention bias toward hostile stimuli is associated with an increased risk of aggressive behavior. Thus, reducing hostile attention bias may help to reduce aggression in young offenders. We evaluated the remediating effects of Attention Bias Modification (ABM) on hostile attention bias and aggressive behavior in Chinese male young offenders with antisocial tendencies. METHODS Institutionalized male young offenders (ages 16-18) were recruited and randomly assigned to ABM (n = 28), placebo (n = 28), or waiting list (n = 28). The ABM group received four weeks of training using visual search of emotional faces; the placebo group underwent similar training using visual search of neutral objects. Before and after treatment, aggressive behavior, attention bias toward positive stimuli and hostile stimuli were assessed. RESULTS Linear mixed models and hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that the intervention effect of ABM was moderated by participants' initial attention bias. Young offenders with a high level of initial hostile attention bias, or with a low level of initial positive attention bias, benefitted most from ABM. LIMITATIONS The small sample size impedes investigation of the mechanism of the intervention's effects. Further research can determine whether the current results can be extrapolated to the population of female young offenders. CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggest that ABM is helpful for young offenders who show the greatest bias toward hostile stimuli and away from positive stimuli. These findings highlight the importance of matching the intervention and the participant. TRIAL REGISTRATION osf.io/vj5rk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xianglian Yu
- Department of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Zhihong Ren
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Lin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xu Li
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
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Zhao Z, Yu X, Ren Z, Zhang L, Li X. Attentional variability and avoidance of hostile stimuli decrease aggression in Chinese male juvenile delinquents. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2021; 15:19. [PMID: 33849628 PMCID: PMC8045404 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-021-00368-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a prominent issue worldwide, juveniles' aggressive and violent crimes have attracted much interest in recent years. Based on the social information processing model, the present study aimed to evaluate the Chinese male juvenile delinquents' attention bias towards hostile stimuli from both static and dynamic perspectives. Additionally, the predictive effect of attention bias on aggressive behavior and the moderating effect of group (juvenile delinquents and the controls with no criminal history) were also investigated. METHODS The hostile attention bias and aggressive behavior of 76 juvenile delinquents (Mage = 17.5 years, SD = 0.59 years) and 67 controls (Mage = 18.3 years, SD = 0.73 years) were measured with the emotional dot-probe task, emotional Stroop task, and the Chinese version of the Buss & Perry aggression questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS The results showed that compared with controls, juvenile delinquents showed more attention biases towards hostile faces and words, and demonstrated higher levels of physical aggression and anger. Furthermore, the type of participants moderated the relationship between hostile attention bias and aggressive behavior. For juvenile delinquents, attention bias away from hostile stimuli and attention variability negatively predicted anger, while for controls, attention variability positively predicted self-directed aggression. CONCLUSION Attentional variability and avoidance of hostile stimuli are expected to reduce the aggressive level of Chinese male juvenile delinquents. The relationship between attention bias and aggression should be further considered and applied in the clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Zhao
- grid.411407.70000 0004 1760 2614Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No.152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianglian Yu
- grid.411407.70000 0004 1760 2614Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No.152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079 People’s Republic of China ,grid.411854.d0000 0001 0709 0000Department of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhihong Ren
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No.152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lin Zhang
- grid.411407.70000 0004 1760 2614Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No.152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu Li
- grid.411407.70000 0004 1760 2614Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No.152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430079 People’s Republic of China
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Wai-Ming Mak V, Man-Yin Ho S, Li WL, Ka-Yan Pau B. Relationships between hope and mental health among women in prison. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH : CBMH 2021; 31:96-108. [PMID: 33733563 DOI: 10.1002/cbm.2191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research with non-offenders has linked a higher dispositional cognition of hope to lower levels of psychological symptoms and demonstrated mediating effects of attentional biases on the relationship between hope and psychological symptoms, but this has not been explored among offenders. AIMS Our aim was to investigate associations between a dispositional cognition of hope and habitual attentional processing styles and distress among women in prison. We hypothesised that higher levels of hope would be associated with more attention to positive information and less to negative information in the surroundings and, in turn, lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in women in prison. METHOD In a cross-sectional study, we recruited consenting women serving a prison sentence who had been referred to psychological services. Participants completed a set of self-rating inventories individually, which scaled their levels of hope, attention to positive and negative information and symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. RESULTS Two hundred and three women participated. Their average age was 35.68 years (range 21-67 years). Over half were recidivists (170, 58%). Overall, the higher the level of hope they had, the lower were the ratings of their psychological symptoms. Positive attentional bias was associated with higher hope and lower psychological distress. In contrast, negative attentional bias was related to lower hope and higher psychological distress ratings. In statistical models, both attentional biases appeared to be partial mediators of the relationship between hope and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS Our findings among women in prison were consistent with those in non-forensic populations and not previously studied among prisoners. They suggest that it would be worth evaluating interventions to modify attentional styles as they may have value in increasing hope and reducing psychological symptoms and perhaps also harmful behaviours in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wing-Ling Li
- Hong Kong Correctional Services, Hong Kong, China
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Sadek SA, Daniel MR, Langdon PE. Attentional bias toward negative and positive pictorial stimuli and its relationship with distorted cognitions, empathy, and moral reasoning among men with intellectual disabilities who have committed crimes. Aggress Behav 2021; 47:120-130. [PMID: 32557634 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to examine: (a) whether men with intellectual disabilities who have a history of criminal offending attend to affective pictorial stimuli in a biased manner, and (b) whether there is a relationship between an affective attentional bias and offense-supportive cognitions, empathy, and moral reasoning. Forty-six men with intellectual disabilities who had a documented history of criminal offending, and 51 men who also had intellectual disabilities, but no such history, were recruited and asked to complete a computer-based dot-probe task using affective pictorial stimuli with randomization, along with measures of distorted cognitions, empathy, and moral reasoning. Those with a history of criminal offending endorsed significantly more offense-supportive cognitions, had significantly lower general empathy, and more "mature" moral reasoning, as well as a significant attentional bias toward affective pictorial stimuli. Attentional bias significantly predicted offense-supportive cognitions, and vice versa, having controlled for offense history, and Full-Scale IQ, but this was not the case for empathy or moral reasoning. While the findings require replication, interventions that aim to modify attention bias with this population should be tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A. Sadek
- School of Psychology and Sport Science Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge UK
- Learning Disability Mortality Review Programme Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group Cambridge UK
| | | | - Peter E. Langdon
- Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR) University of Warwick Coventry UK
- Brooklands Hospital, Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust Coventry UK
- Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust Worcester UK
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Hartmann D, Ueno K, Schwenck C. Attributional and attentional bias in children with conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits: a case-control study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2020; 14:9. [PMID: 32175005 PMCID: PMC7063755 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-020-00315-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children who are frequently aggressive or lack empathy show various deficits in their social information processing. Several findings suggest that children with conduct problems (CP) show a tendency to interpret ambiguous situations as hostile (hostile attribution bias) and have difficulties to disengage from negative stimuli (attentional bias). The role that additional callous-unemotional traits (CU-traits) play in these biases is yet unclear. Investigating both attentional and attributional aspects of social information processing in children can help us to understand where anomalies in the processing pathway occur and whether the biases are associated with CP and CU-traits separately or in an interactive manner. METHODS We compared three groups of children: (a) 25 children with CP and low levels of CU-traits (b) 25 children with CP and elevated levels of CU-traits (c) 50 gender (68% male), age (8-17 years) and intelligence score-matched typically developing children, on a pictorial emotional stroop task and a hostile attribution bias task. RESULTS In contrast to our predictions, there were no significant group differences regarding attentional biases or hostile attribution biases. Boys with CP and high levels of CU-traits showed a significantly higher hostile attribution bias compared to girls with CP and high levels of CU-traits. The attention bias to angry stimuli significantly correlated with the hostile attribution bias. Compared to the control group the CP group with low levels of CU-traits showed a significantly stronger association between the attention bias to angry stimuli and the hostile attribution bias. CONCLUSIONS The current study provides evidence that boys with CP and high levels of CU-traits interpret ambiguous situations as more hostile than girls do. Our results further provide indications that the interaction of attentional and attributional biases in children with CP might contribute to their increased aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Hartmann
- Department of Special Needs Educational and Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Straße 10 C, 35394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Ueno
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christina Schwenck
- Department of Special Needs Educational and Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Straße 10 C, 35394 Giessen, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
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Smeijers D, Bulten E, Buitelaar J, Verkes RJ. Associations Between Neurocognitive Characteristics, Treatment Outcome, and Dropout Among Aggressive Forensic Psychiatric Outpatients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2018; 62:3853-3872. [PMID: 29291630 PMCID: PMC6094548 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x17750340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Aggression Replacement Training (ART) is widely used to reduce aggression and is considered to be effective although there are also inconsistent results. Studies investigating the effectiveness of ART do not focus on neurocognitive characteristics. Focusing on these aspects would result in enhanced understanding of underlying mechanisms of ART. The current open uncontrolled treatment study assessed whether neurocognitive characteristics were associated with change in aggression during the social skills and anger control modules of ART among forensic psychiatric outpatients. Furthermore, differences between treatment dropouts and completers and change in these characteristics during ART were examined. A reduction of trait aggression, cognitive distortions, and social anxiety was observed. Neurocognitive characteristics were not associated with change in aggression, could not distinguish treatment completers from dropouts, and did not change after ART. It is suggested that new paradigms should be developed which take into account the social context in which these impairments appear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danique Smeijers
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud
University Medical Centre Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition
and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Bulten
- Forensic Psychiatric Centre
Pompestichting, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Buitelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition
and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience,
Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert-Jan Verkes
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud
University Medical Centre Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition
and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Forensic Psychiatric Centre
Pompestichting, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Gladwin TE, Vink M. Freeze or Forget? Virtual Attack Effects in an Emotional Sternberg Task. EUROPES JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 14:342-358. [PMID: 30008950 PMCID: PMC6016026 DOI: 10.5964/ejop.v14i2.1473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Emotionally salient stimuli have the ability to disrupt cognitive processing. This kind of disruption involves effects on working memory and may be related to mental health problems. To explore the nature of such emotional interference on working memory, a Virtual Attack Emotional Sternberg Task (VAEST) was used. Neutral faces were presented as distractors and warning signals, which were sometimes followed by a virtual attack, created by having the neutral face turn angry while the image was enlarged. The attack was hypothesized to have one of two effects: to disrupt cognitive processing and thereby increase interference effects, or to terminate a state of freezing and thereby reduce interference effects. The task was successfully completed online by a sample of 59 students. Results clearly show that the virtual attack caused a reduction of interference relative to no-attack trials. The apparent cognitive disruption caused by emotional distractors may thus reflect freezing, which can be reversed by a freeze-terminating stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Edward Gladwin
- Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Chichester, Chichester, United Kingdom
| | - Matthijs Vink
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Departments of Developmental and Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Ramos C, Duque-Grajales J, Rendón J, Montoya-Betancur A, Baena A, Pineda D, Tobón C. Changes in Resting EEG in Colombian Ex-combatants ith Antisocial Personality Disorder. REVISTA COLOMBIANA DE PSIQUIATRIA (ENGLISH ED.) 2018; 47:90-97. [PMID: 29754711 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcp.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although the social and economic consequences of Colombian internal conflicts mainly affected the civilian population, they also had other implications. The ex-combatants, the other side of the conflict, have been the subject of many studies that question their personality structures and antisocial features. Results suggest that ex-combatants usually have characteristics of an antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) that is related with their behaviour. METHODS Quantitative EEG (qEEG) was used to evaluate differences in cortical activity patterns between an ex-combatants group and a control group. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) was used to assess the presence of ASPD in the ex-combatants group, as well as the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS) for other mental disorders classified in the DCI-10. RESULTS There are significant differences in psychopathy levels between groups, as well as in alpha-2 and beta waves, especially in left temporal and frontal areas for alpha-2 waves and left temporal-central regions for beta waves. CONCLUSIONS qEEG measurements allow spectral resting potential to be differentiated between groups that are related with features typically involved in antisocial personality disorder, and to correlate them with patterns in the questionnaires and clinical interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ramos
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Jon Duque-Grajales
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Bioinstrumentación e Ingeniería Clínica (GIBIC), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Jorge Rendón
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo de Neuropsicología y Conducta, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | - Ana Baena
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - David Pineda
- Grupo de Neuropsicología y Conducta, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carlos Tobón
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo de Neuropsicología y Conducta, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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Sedgwick O, Young S, Baumeister D, Greer B, Das M, Kumari V. Neuropsychology and emotion processing in violent individuals with antisocial personality disorder or schizophrenia: The same or different? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2017; 51:1178-1197. [PMID: 28992741 DOI: 10.1177/0004867417731525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess whether there are shared or divergent (a) cognitive and (b) emotion processing characteristics among violent individuals with antisocial personality disorder and/or schizophrenia, diagnoses which are commonly encountered at the interface of mental disorder and violence. Cognition and emotion processing are incorporated into models of violence, and thus an understanding of these characteristics within and between disorder groups may help inform future models and therapeutic targets. METHODS Relevant databases (OVID, Embase, PsycINFO) were searched to identify suitable literature. Meta-analyses comparing cognitive function in violent schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder to healthy controls were conducted. Neuropsychological studies not comparing these groups to healthy controls, and emotion processing studies, were evaluated qualitatively. RESULTS Meta-analyses indicated lower IQ, memory and executive function in both violent schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder groups compared to healthy controls. The degree of deficit was consistently larger in violent schizophrenia. Both antisocial personality disorder and violent schizophrenia groups had difficulties in aspects of facial affect recognition, although theory of mind results were less conclusive. Psychopathic traits related positively to experiential emotion deficits across the two disorders. Very few studies explored comorbid violent schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder despite this being common in clinical practice. CONCLUSION There are qualitatively similar, but quantitatively different, neuropsychological and emotion processing deficits in violent individuals with schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder which could be developed into transdiagnostic treatment targets for violent behaviour. Future research should aim to characterise specific subgroups of violent offenders, including those with comorbid diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ottilie Sedgwick
- 1 Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,2 Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health Trust, Crowthorne, UK
| | - Susan Young
- 2 Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health Trust, Crowthorne, UK.,3 Centre for Mental Health, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David Baumeister
- 1 Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ben Greer
- 2 Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health Trust, Crowthorne, UK
| | - Mrigendra Das
- 2 Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health Trust, Crowthorne, UK
| | - Veena Kumari
- 4 Research and Development, Sovereign Health Group, San Clemente, CA, USA
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Slotboom J, Hoppenbrouwers SS, Bouman YHA, In 't Hout W, Sergiou C, van der Stigchel S, Theeuwes J. Visual attention in violent offenders: Susceptibility to distraction. Psychiatry Res 2017; 251:281-286. [PMID: 28222312 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Impairments in executive functioning give rise to reduced control of behavior and impulses, and are therefore a risk factor for violence and criminal behavior. However, the contribution of specific underlying processes remains unclear. A crucial element of executive functioning, and essential for cognitive control and goal-directed behavior, is visual attention. To further elucidate the importance of attentional functioning in the general offender population, we employed an attentional capture task to measure visual attention. We expected offenders to have impaired visual attention, as revealed by increased attentional capture, compared to healthy controls. When comparing the performance of 62 offenders to 69 healthy community controls, we found our hypothesis to be partly confirmed. Offenders were more accurate overall, more accurate in the absence of distracting information, suggesting superior attention. In the presence of distracting information offenders were significantly less accurate compared to when no distracting information was present. Together, these findings indicate that violent offenders may have superior attention, yet worse control over attention. As such, violent offenders may have trouble adjusting to unexpected, irrelevant stimuli, which may relate to failures in self-regulation and inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jantine Slotboom
- Tactus, Addiction Care, Velperbuitensingel 6, 6828 CT Arnhem, The Netherlands.
| | - Sylco S Hoppenbrouwers
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Yvonne H A Bouman
- Stichting Transfore, Forensic Care, Pikeursbaan 21, 7411 GT Deventer, The Netherlands.
| | - Willem In 't Hout
- Forensic Psychiatric Centre Oostvaarderskliniek, Carl Barksweg 3, 1336 ZL Almere, The Netherlands.
| | - Carmen Sergiou
- Forensic Psychiatric Centre Oostvaarderskliniek, Carl Barksweg 3, 1336 ZL Almere, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Psychology Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Stefan van der Stigchel
- Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jan Theeuwes
- Department of Cognitive Psychology Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Brugman S, Lobbestael J, von Borries AKL, Bulten BEH, Cima M, Schuhmann T, Dambacher F, Sack AT, Arntz A. Cognitive predictors of violent incidents in forensic psychiatric inpatients. Psychiatry Res 2016; 237:229-37. [PMID: 26850647 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study tested the predictive value of attentional bias, emotion recognition, automatic associations, and response inhibition, in the assessment of in-clinic violent incidents. Sixty-nine male forensic patients participated and completed an Emotional Stroop to measure attentional bias for threat and aggression, a Single Target - Implicit Association Task to assess automatic associations, a Graded Emotional Recognition Task to measure emotion recognition, and an Affective Go/NoGo to measure response inhibition. Violent incidents were derived from patient files and scored on severity level. The predictive value of level of psychopathy was tested with the Psychopathy Checklist - Revised (PCL-R). Generalized linear mixed model analyses showed that increased attention towards threat and aggression, difficulty recognizing sad faces and factor 2 of the PCL-R predicted the sum of violent incidents. Specifically, verbal aggression was predicted by increased attention towards threat and aggression, difficulty to recognize sad and happy faces, and PCL-R factor 2; physical aggression by decreased response inhibition, higher PCL-R factor 2 and lower PCL-R factor 1 scores; and aggression against property by difficulty recognizing angry faces. Findings indicate that cognitive tasks could be valuable in predicting aggression, thereby extending current knowledge on dynamic factors predicting aggressive behavior in forensic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Brugman
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
| | - Jill Lobbestael
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Maaike Cima
- Department of Research, Forensic Psychiatric Centre de Rooyse Wissel, The Netherlands; Department of Developmental Psychology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Teresa Schuhmann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Center, The Netherlands
| | - Franziska Dambacher
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Center, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander T Sack
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Center, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud Arntz
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Guan M, Liao Y, Ren H, Wang X, Yang Q, Liu X, Wang W. Impaired response inhibition in juvenile delinquents with antisocial personality characteristics: A preliminary ERP study in a Go/Nogo task. Neurosci Lett 2015; 603:1-5. [PMID: 26189594 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The present study explored the time course of response inhibition function in juvenile delinquents with antisocial personality characteristics (JDAP) by recording the event-related potentials in a Go/Nogo task. Compared to healthy participants, JDAP participants showed similar performance to controls for the Go trails, but worse performance for the Nogo trails. Both N2nogo and P3nogo components showed reduction of the amplitudes in JDAP participants, reflecting the early stage of associated with conflict monitoring and the late stage of inhibition processing, respectively. These data suggest that JDAP participants exhibited impaired response inhibition function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzhen Guan
- Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Liao
- Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Huijuan Ren
- Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiuchao Wang
- Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qun Yang
- Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xufeng Liu
- Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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