title: Male inmate profiles and their biological correlates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Borderline and antisocial personality disorders (PDs) share common clinical features (impulsivity, aggressiveness, substance use disorders [SUDs], and suicidal behaviours) that are greatly overrepresented in prison populations. These disorders have been associated biologically with testosterone and cortisol levels. However, the associations are ambiguous and the subject of controversy, perhaps because these heterogeneous disorders have been addressed as unitary constructs. A consideration of profiles of people, rather than of exclusive diagnoses, might yield clearer relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were employed to identify subgroups among 545 newly convicted inmates. The groups were then compared in terms of clinical features and biological markers, including levels of cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and sulfoconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-S).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four clusters with differing psychiatric, criminal, and biological profiles emerged. Clinically, one group had intermediate scores for each of the tested clinical features. Another group comprised people with little comorbidity. Two others displayed severe impulsivity, PD, and SUD. Biologically, cortisol levels were lowest in the last 2 groups and highest in the group with less comorbidity. In keeping with previous findings reported in the literature, testosterone was higher in a younger population with severe psychiatric symptoms. However, some apparently comparable behavioural outcomes were found to be related to distinct biological profiles. No differences were observed for estradiol, progesterone, or DHEA-S levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results not only confirm the importance of biological markers in the study of personality features but also demonstrate the need to consider the role of comorbidities and steroid coregulation.
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Philippe-Pinel Institute of Montreal, Mental Health University Institute of Montreal, Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec; Psychiatrist and Researcher, University Medical Centre, Functional Neuroscience and Disorders Laboratory, Lille North of France University, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Mental Health University Institute of Montreal, Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Potvin
authors.affiliation: Statistician, Philippe-Pinel Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Allaire
authors.affiliation: Director, Research Centre, Philippe-Pinel Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec; Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University and McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Biochemist, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Benkirane
authors.affiliation: Research Coordinator, Philippe-Pinel Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vachon
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrist and Researcher, Philippe-Pinel Institute of Montreal, Mental Health University Institute of Montreal, Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dumais
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011594:Psychometrics; D011792:Quebec; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006728:Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone