Contribution of Brain Cortical Features to the Psychological Risk Profile of Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

This study contributes to the neuroscience of offending behavior by addressing two aims: a) to examine differences in the cortical features in a group of male serious juvenile offenders (21 OG), versus controls (28 CG), both ranging from 18 to 21 years old; and b) to determine to what extent the differential cortical features and the risk psychological profile discriminate between the two groups. Method: Besides cortical measures, demographics, executive functioning, childhood trauma, psychopathic traits, psychopathological symptoms, and antisocial and delinquent behavior were assessed. Results: Whole-brain analysis of the cortical mantle identified increased cortical thickness in the cluster comprising the right middle temporal gyrus and a smaller surface area in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex for the OG compared to the CG. The discriminant function correctly classified 100% of cases of the CG and 94.7% of the OG. Right temporal cluster, childhood trauma, callousness and symptoms of interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism, depression, phobic anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive behavior contributed to the OG. In turn, the lateral orbitofrontal cluster, psychopathic traits of grandiosity, unemotionality, and thrill seeking, and working memory contributed to the CG. Conclusions: The increased right middle temporal gyrus of the OG could be indicative of impaired brain development in social cognition processes since it appeared in combination with the higher risk profile. The reduced orbitofrontal cortex could be indicative of immature brain development in emotional control processes since it appeared in combination with the normative psychological profile in adolescence. Based on these novel findings, areas of potential improvement for research and intervention are suggested.

Profiles of Adolescents who Abuse their Parents: A Gender-based Analysis

“…Lastly, they are consistent with evidence showing that the number, severity, and diversity of adverse experiences to which children are exposed have an impact on their future maladaptive behaviors (Baglivio et al, 2015), including depression (Allwood et al, 2011), anxiety (Tatar et al, 2012), and APV (Calvete et al, 2020;Calvete et al, 2015, Paterson et al, 2002. Early life adversity has also been linked to delinquency in general (Baglivio et al, 2015;Ford et al, 2012;Padrón et al, 2022;Levenson & Socia, 2016;Wolff et al, 2016), and to APV related offenses in particular (Nowakowski-Sims & Rowe, 2017).…”

Prevalence of Dangerousness to the Public, Criminogenic Risk Factors and Psychopathic Traits in Child-to-Parent Offenders and Contrast with Non-Child-to-Parent Offenders

“…Fourth, a superficial, grandiose, and manipulative personality (interpersonal traits) as well as callousness and lack of remorse (affective traits) define CPOs in comparison to non-CPOs. Callousness (the most severe affective trait) do also discriminate of juvenile offenders from non-offenders [ 59 ]. In consequence, intervention programs with CPOs should emphasize the focus in the treatment of interpersonal and affective traits.…”

Meta-análisis de la eficacia de intervenciones psicológicas en menores refugiados

“…De por si la población juvenil es objeto de estudio en función de múltiples variables asociadas a la transgresión (v. gr., Llinares Insa et al, 2011;Padrón et al, 2022), sin duda un grupo de población especialmente expuesto a la violencia lo constituyen las personas refugiadas, cuyas consecuencias son particularmente adversas para los jóvenes a causa de su acentuada vulnerabilidad (Bronstein y Montgomery, 2011). Esta experiencia migratoria tiene un fuerte impacto psicológico para los niños y adolescentes refugiados, volviéndolos más susceptibles a sufrir los efectos adversos de futuros episodios de victimización (Koenen, 2006).…”