Dimensional assessment of personality pathology in female and male juvenile delinquents.
A developmental perspective implies similar personality pathology dimensions for adolescents and adults. The present study examined the applicability of a dimensional approach in incarcerated delinquent female and male juveniles using the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology-Basic Questionnaire (DAPP-BQ). A sample of detained adolescents (n = 146) was compared to adolescent students (n = 98) and a healthy control group of adults (n = 82). Additionally, psychopathology was assessed in the incarcerated juveniles using the Youth Self Report (YSR). Analyses of variance revealed higher scores on personality disorder traits for juveniles compared to adult controls; the highest scores were observed in criminal juveniles. Hypothesized relationships could be confirmed within the criminal sample between the DAPP factor Emotional Dysregulation and the YSR Internalization syndrome scale, and between the DAPP factor Dissocial Behavior and the YSR Externalization syndrome scale. Moreover, gender differences in the criminal sample are discussed. Results indicate that the DAPP-BQ can assess personality disorder traits in delinquent and nondetained juveniles with sufficient group and criterion validity.
Krischer
Maya K
MK
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotheraphy, University of Cologne, Germany. maya.krischer@uk-koeln.de
Sevecke
Kathrin
K
Lehmkuhl
Gerd
G
Pukrop
Ralf
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution