Psychopathological features in a sample of substance-abusing individuals with criminal history: Towards a definition of a personality prototype of an 'Addict with Criminal Conduct'.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between substance use disorders and criminal activity is strong, and one that is not easily resolved in the criminal justice system. A better understanding of personality traits among substance misusers who commit offences could support better treatment efforts.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to explore associations between the psychopathology of people addicted to substances who have also committed crimes.


METHODS
We recruited 263 substance-dependent individuals (80% male, 20% female) from a cohort of people attending regional community services in Italy. They all completed an extensive evaluation of their current mental health and personality traits. Their official criminal records were obtained, and the psychopathology of those who had a criminal record compared with those who did not.


RESULTS
The criminal group was more likely to perceive the external world as hostile and to consider others as responsible for their own problems and difficulties; in addition, substance-dependent individuals with criminal records showed more personality traits within the psychopathy range and fewer in the dependent personality range than the substance abusers who had never committed crimes.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings allow us to hypothesise that substance abusers who also have criminal convictions may have a specific personality profile. If further research were to confirm this, then it could have important implications for identifying people for particular treatment pathways and developing more effective treatments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.|New Social Pathologies Research Unit, University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.|LUMSA University of Rome (Libera Università degli Studi Maria SS. Assunta di Roma), Rome, Italy.
Alessio
A
Gori
University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.|New Social Pathologies Research Unit, University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.
Lucia
L
Ponti
University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.|New Social Pathologies Research Unit, University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.
Franca
F
Tani
Gruppo Incontro Social Cooperative, Pistoia, Italy.|Italian Society of Psychological Assessment Florence, Italy (Società Italiana di Psicodiagnostica Clinica - SIPDC), Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Iraci Sareri
University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.
Marco
M
Giannini
University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Florence, Italy.
Patrizia
P
Meringolo
Kore University of Enna (Università Kore di Enna), Enna, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Craparo
Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma), Rome, Italy.
Angelo
A
Bruschi
LUMSA University of Rome (Libera Università degli Studi Maria SS. Assunta di Roma), Rome, Italy.
Vincenzo
V
Caretti
LUMSA University of Rome (Libera Università degli Studi Maria SS. Assunta di Roma), Rome, Italy.
Marco
M
Cacioppo
Careggi Hospital-University Corporation Florence, Italy (Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Careggi - Firenze), Italy.
Rolando
R
Paterniti
University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
David
D
Schuldberg
D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000066479:Criminal Behavior; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011599:Psychopathology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*