title: Cluster B personality pathology in incarcerated girls: structure, comorbidity, and aggression.
abstract: Several studies have linked Cluster B personality pathology to aggression in clinical and community samples. However, the structure of Cluster B traits, and association to aggression and psychopathology, has yet to be investigated among young female offenders. In order to better inform treatments for female aggression, we studied 121 incarcerated girls, aged 13 to 19 years, who completed a series of self-report inventories that measured overt and relational aggression, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety. Personality was assessed through a structured interview. Factor analysis of Cluster B traits revealed a three factor solution, with each factor demonstrating a unique pattern of association to relational and overt aggression and psychopathology. The implications with regard to treatment of personality pathology and aggression in the juvenile justice setting are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research and Education Clinical Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. burnette@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Mandi L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Burnette
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: South
authors.forename: N Dickon
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Reppucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014768:Virginia