Temperament and character and psychopathy in male conduct disordered offenders.
Adult male offenders with high psychopathy scores are characterized by high Novelty Seeking, low Harm Avoidance and low Cooperativeness; temperament and character traits that may moderate treatment outcomes. This is the first study to investigate if a similar profile is present in juveniles. One hundred and twenty two incarcerated juvenile male offenders who met the criteria for conduct disorder in the absence of current psychiatric disorder (e.g. psychosis, depression, anxiety) were rated on the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL: YV). PCL: YV total score was positively correlated with Novelty Seeking but negatively correlated with Cooperativeness and Harm Avoidance. Examination of the PCL: YV facets indicated a significant negative correlation between Harm Avoidance and PCL: YV Interpersonal and PCL: YV Antisocial; and Reward Dependence and Cooperativeness and PCL: YV Lifestyle/Behavioral. Relationships were primarily with lifestyle/behavioral and antisocial facets of psychopathy. The TCI profile resembles that seen in adult offenders and has implications for treatment as low cooperativeness and reward dependency are likely to be key responsivity factors that need to be addressed in treatment planning.
University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Centre for Mental Health & Risk, Room 2.315, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: charlotte.lennox@manchester.ac.uk.
Charlotte
C
Lennox
Centre for Forensic Behavioral Science, Monash University, Monash University, 505 Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill, Vic 3068, Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Mairead
M
Dolan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002605:Character; D019955:Conduct Disorder; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011599:Psychopathology; D013694:Temperament
Conduct disorder; Juvenile; Offender; Personality; Psychiatry; Psychopathy; Temperament