High testosterone levels and sensitivity to acute stress in perpetrators of domestic violence with low cognitive flexibility and impairments in their emotional decoding process: A preliminary study

Abstract

Hormonal and neuropsychological impairment in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators could play a role in domestic violence. For characterizing whether there is a specific psychobiological response to stress, participants who had previously been jailed for IPV and controls were compared for testosterone and cortisol levels, tested for 2D:4D ratio (as an indicator of masculinization), and given several trait questionnaires and neuropsychological tests related to executive functions and theory of mind. After performing the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), IPV perpetrators experienced decreases in salivary testosterone (T) levels, a moderate worsening of mood, slight anxiety, and a salivary cortisol (C) level increase. Moreover, high basal T was related with high levels of anger and anxiety and worse mood. However, that basal mood does not significantly alter T levels in response to stress. Nonetheless, controls experienced smaller changes in T and larger changes in C and psychological mood. With respect to neuropsychological and cognitive empathic features, IPV perpetrators showed poorer executive performance and emotional recognition than controls. In addition, deficits in both neuropsychological domains were positively associated. Regarding emotional empathy, IPV perpetrators showed higher levels of personal distress than controls. The 2D:4D ratio was lower in IPV perpetrators than in controls. Moreover, only in the former a smaller 2D:4D ratio was related to large increases in T in response to stress and poor emotional recognition. Together with social aspects involved in IPV, differences in psychobiological variables and their relationships could play a relevant role in the onset and perpetuation of violent behavior. Aggr. Behav. 9999:1-15, 2013.

Testosterone and attention deficits as possible mechanisms underlying impaired emotion recognition in intimate partner violence perpetrators

“…This is consistent with previous research in this field (Babcock et al, 2008;Holtzworth-Munroe & Smutzler, 1996;Marshall & Holtzworth-Munroe, 2010;RomeroMartínez, Lila, Catalá-Miñana et al, 2013;Romero-Martínez, Lila, Sariñana-González et al, 2013;. We also found that those emotional decoding impairments could be partially explained by self-reported impairments in attentional set shifting or switch costs.…”

“…In line with these results, previous studies have demonstrated that violent offenders show significant deficits in attentional set shifting or larger attention switch costs in comparison with non-violent population (Bergvall, Wessely, Forsman, & Hansen, 2001). In fact, this attention deficit might explain not only the impaired emotion decoding process but also the executive domain deficits defined as a worse performance in tests like the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, which has been previously reported in IPV perpetrators (Gracia et al, 2015;Romero-Martínez, Lila, Catalá-Miñana et al, 2013;Romero-Martínez, Lila, Sariñana-González et al, 2013;. Nonetheless, it is important to note that in our research we analyzed attention deficits with self-reports, although these subscales have been employed as successful inattention measures in previous studies in several populations (Polderman et al, 2013;Rusconi, Ferri, Viding, & Mitchener-Nissen, 2015;Sizoo et al, 2009).…”

“…Finally, in the last sessions, participants completed the 'reading the mind in the eyes' test (henceforth, the eyes test) and the inattention subscales of the Autism Spectrum Quotient questionnaire (see below). For further details, see Romero-Martínez, Lila, Catalá-Miñana et al (2013), Romero-Martínez, Lila, Sariñana-González et al (2013).…”

Cardiovascular reactivity to a marital conflict version of the Trier social stress test in intimate partner violence perpetrators

“…IPV perpetrators did not differ from controls in age (36.88 ± 2.59 and 34.82 ± 1.47, respectively), BMI (26.84 ± 3.34 and 27.20 ± 3.22, respectively) or sociodemographic variables (see details in Romero-Martínez et al, 2013b). Moreover, no differences were found in baseline values of cardiovascular variables.…”

Déficits neuropsicológicos asociados a la relación entre abuso de cocaína y violencia: mecanismos neuronales facilitadores

“…Thus, it would be of great utility to develop a single neuropsychological battery for the assessment of the propensity for violence in the absence or presence of drug abuse, adjusting it to a series of tests tailored to this population subgroup. This, together with the consideration of diverse psychobiological variables shown to be relevant in violent people (Romero-Martínez et al, 2013a;2013b;Romero-Martínez, González-Bono, Lila, & Moya-Albiol, 2013;Romero-Martínez, Lila, Conchell, González-Bono, & Moya-Albiol, 2014;Romero-Martínez, Lila, Williams, González-Bono, & Moya-Albiol, 2013), would permit the development of intervention strategies that focus on these specific cognitive domains. …”