Substance-related disorders among juvenile offenders: What role do psychopathic traits play?

Abstract

Substance use disorders are associated with psychopathy, a personality disorder that is heterogeneous in both adults and youth; secondary variants of psychopathy with comorbid psychopathology and primary variants without comorbidity show distinct correlates and outcomes. In adult criminal populations, secondary variants report greater substance abuse compared with primary variants. The primary aim of this study is to replicate and extend these findings to a juvenile offender population. Compared with primary variants of juvenile psychopathy, secondary variants (a) reported significantly more frequent substance—particularly alcohol—use within the six months prior to incarceration (d = .43), (b) were almost twice as likely to abuse substances while incarcerated, and (c) were more likely to be diagnosed with a current DSM-IV substance use disorder. Practical implications for working with justice-involved youth are discussed.

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’

“…In addition, the criminal group showed a higher tendency to perceive the external world as hostile and to consider others as responsible for their own problems and difficulties, as well as to show a lack of anticipatory anxiety and tending to be involved in risk‐taking behaviours. Moreover, they showed more psychopathic features (Hare, ) than substance abusers who never committed crimes; these findings lend support to the idea that psychopathic traits are present among substance abusers who commit crimes, which is also consistent with previous research (Kimonis et al, ; Gori et al, ). Additional psychopathological features that emerged in the criminal group are greater paranoid ideation and the presence of an avoidant defensive style; this latter refers to increased use of defence mechanisms such as rationalisation, denial and omnipotence.…”

Person-centered approaches in the study of personality disorders.

“…Primary psychopathy is consistently associated with fewer internalizing problems (Drislane et al, 2014; Falkenbach et al, 2014; Hicks et al, 2004; Kahn et al, 2013; Kimonis et al, 2011; Lee & Salekin, 2010; Poythress et al, 2010; Swogger & Kosson, 2007; Swogger et al, 2008). Secondary psychopathy on the other hand is associated with elevated levels of both internalizing (Blackburn et al, 2008; Cox et al, 2013; Hicks et al, 2004; Poythress et al, 2010) and externalizing problems including more severe substance use problems (Claes et al, 2014; Hicks et al, 2004, 2010; Kimonis et al, 2012b; Magyar et al, 2011; Swogger & Kosson, 2007; Swogger et al, 2008; Vassileva et al, 2005; Vaughn et al, 2009). Secondary psychopathy is also associated with having experienced child maltreatment and other traumatic events as well as symptoms of PTSD (Blackburn et al, 2008; Kahn et al, 2013; Kimonis et al, 2011, 2012a; Poythress et al, 2010; Vaughn et al, 2009).…”

Developmental Trajectories of Marijuana Use among Men

“…However, it remains unclear whether psychopathic features represent a developmental precursor to or outcome of chronic marijuana use. In addition, heavy marijuana use is most consistently associated with the impulsive/irresponsible dimension of psychopathy, as opposed to features associated with callousness and interpersonal manipulation (Hillege et al 2010; Kimonis et al 2012; Smith and Newman 1990; Walsh et al 2007). Along these lines, individuals who develop marijuana use disorders often exhibit a persistent pattern of reckless and irresponsible (e.g., poor work performance, financial irresponsibility) behavior (American Psychiatric Association 2013), which may account for the linkage between chronic use and the erratic lifestyle features of adult psychopathy (Hare and Neumann 2008).…”