title: Neuropsychological characteristics of three subgroups of Flemish delinquent adolescents.
abstract: Sixty-three adjudicated adolescents, aged 14-17 years, were followed for 2 years to examine the neuropsychological characteristics of subgroups of delinquents. Nonrecidivistic subjects (n = 29) and late recidivistic subjects (n = 22) differed from early recidivistic subjects (n = 12) on intelligence, self-control functioning, and memory. Late recidivistic subjects, compared with not recidivistic subjects, showed a lower verbal IQ. The differences remained when controlling for the level of substance abuse. This study suggests that neuropsychological assessment may help in differentiating delinquent adolescents, although more research is needed to unravel the mediating influences of substance abuse and early neuropsychological and academic problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Middelheimhospital, University of Antwerp, Belgium. rvermeiren@europemail.com
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vermeiren
authors.forename: Clippele Antoine
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwab-Stone
authors.forename: Vladislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruchkin
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deboutte
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology