A preliminary empirical evaluation of KooLKIDS: A school-based program to reduce early onset antisocial behaviour in children

Background The aim of the present study was to conduct a preliminary empirical evaluation of the KooLKIDS program, a school-based intervention that utilises a combination of whole-of-class and individual sessions for young children with early onset antisocial behaviour.

Method Trained facilitators delivered the 13-session program to a completer sample of 49 primary school-aged children (7–11 years) with early onset antisocial behaviour (42 boys and seven girls suspended from school or at risk for suspension) and their peers.

Results Analyses showed significant postintervention reductions on many outcome variables, including teacher and child self-rated aggression and antisocial traits. Significant improvements were also found on measures of emotional intensity and peer acceptance. Acceptability and feasibility data were promising.

Conclusion KooLKIDS has the potential for redirecting the trajectory of antisocial behaviour towards more positive social and emotional outcomes for these at-risk children.     

Early predictors of antisocial developmental pathways among boys and girls

Objective: We investigated in a high‐risk sample the differential impact of biological and psychosocial risk factors on antisocial behaviour pathways. Method: One hundred and thirty‐eight boys and 155 girls born at differing degrees of obstetric and psychosocial risk were examined from birth until adolescence. Childhood temperament was assessed by a highly‐structured parent‐interview and standardized behavioural observations, adolescent temperament was measured by self‐report. Neurodevelopmental variables were assessed by age‐specific developmental tests. Emotional and behaviour problems were measured at the ages of 8 and 15 by the Achenbach scales. Results: In both genders, psychosocial adversity and early self‐control temperament were strongly associated with early‐onset persistent (EOP) antisocial behaviour. Psychosocial adversity and more severe externalizing problems differentiated the EOP from childhood‐limited (CL) pathway. In girls, adolescent‐onset (AO) antisocial behaviour was strongly associated with novelty seeking at 15 years. Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the need for early support and intervention in psychosocially disadvantaged families.     

The development of antisocial behaviour and sudden violent death

ABSTRACT— In order to detect possible relationships between antisocial behaviour and the incidence of “sudden violent death” in young people, information relating to mortality in antisocial Swedish adolescents has been traced and compiled. A register was drawn up covering those young persons (1,056; 832 boys and 224 girls; mean age 16 years) who were admitted to Swedish probationary schools during the period 1 January — 31 December 1967. Using the registers of immigration and emigration, and causes of death kept by SCB (Statistiska Centralbyrån), mortality occurring between 1 January 1967 — 31 December 1985 was tabulated. One hundred and ten boys (13%) and 22 girls (10%) had died. The deaths had occurred at a rate of approximately seven new deaths per observation year, the youngest being still in their teens when they died. For comparison, the criteria set up by insurance companies for life insurance premiums are based on a death expectancy for healthy Swedish boys and girls in the age groups corresponding to the subjects under observation of 1.2-3.1% for boys and 1.1-2.6% for girls. Eighty-eight percent of the dead boys and 77% of the dead girls had died “sudden violent deaths”— accidents, suicides, death from uncertain causes, murder/manslaughter, or alcohol/drug abuse. For both sexes, death from uncertain causes and suicides were the most frequent single causes of death. Death as a direct result of alcohol/drug abuse occurred only in boys. The results give support to the assumption that a link exists between childhood environment, the development of antisocial behaviour/mental insufficiency and a “sudden violent death” at an early age. If further studies can provide proof for this assumption, a broader understanding of the natural course of events leading to “sudden violent death” should make it possible to prevent such deaths, by providing children in the risk zone with more extensive help than has been the case so far and by intervening at a much earlier stage.     

Internet addiction in the island of Hippocrates: the associations between internet abuse and adolescent off‐line behaviours

Background: To investigate the phenomenon of internet addiction and concurrent social (off‐line) behaviours of an adolescent population a cross‐sectional survey of the entire adolescent student population (N = 1270, aged 14–18) of the island of Kos in Greece was conducted. Method: Completion by the survey participants of a demographic questionnaire, the 8‐question YDQ (Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction) and the 20‐question IAT (Internet Addiction Test), followed by comparative analysis between and within usage groups. Results: Results demonstrate that 7.2% of male and 5.1% of female internet users present addictive behaviours while using the internet. Conclusions: Anti‐social, aggressive behaviours were significantly correlated with an increase to the pattern of abusive internet use in both sexes. Boys and girls had distinct profiles of off‐line and online preferences. Boys tended to favour interest‐driven online activities as their levels of addictive behaviour increased while girls favoured communication‐driven online activities.     

Screening for antisocial personality disorder in drug users--a qualitative exploratory study on feasibility

Knowledge about co-occurring personality disorders in drug users is important for planning therapy and prevention. The objective of this study was to assess whether the SCID-II (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R) Screen for antisocial personality disorder was feasible and acceptable in a population of opioid users. A qualitative study on veridicality and emotional quality in responses to SCID-II Screen was carried out by personal interview in a multifunctional addiction centre. The subjects were 10 outpatient participants (six female, four male) in methadone substitution treatment. The SCID-II Screen triggered a high level of emotions. Some questions were mainly interpreted from a victim's perspective, even though the intention was the perpetrator's view. Questions were seen as sex-biased. Provision of support to deal with potential emotional problems should be supplied. Potential revision should be considered to include the female perspective in the screen.     

Predictors of antisocial behaviour in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract Introduction Antisocial behaviour is an important adverse outcome of ADHD. The aim of this review is to examine what is known about the clinical, genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the link between ADHD and antisocial behaviour. Methods Electronic literature searches for the years 1980–2004 and examination of key reference books were undertaken. Results ADHD symptom severity and pervasiveness predict the development of antisocial behaviour. Genetic factors contribute substantially to the risk of developing both problems, although specific genes that influence the development of antisocial behaviour in ADHD have yet to be identified. Some of these genetic effects may be indirectly mediated through environmental risk (gene-environment correlation) or by increasing individual susceptibility to specific environmental adversity (gene-environment interaction). Antisocial behaviour in children with ADHD is also linked with family adversity as well as peer rejection, although some of this adversity may arise as a result of the child’s symptoms. Conclusion Despite the increased risk of antisocial outcomes in those with ADHD, relatively little is known about what risk factors and mechanisms contribute to the link between both these problems. Given the need for appropriate intervention and prevention strategies and targeting resources, more research is needed in this area.     

Social skills and antisocial conduct of delinquents

A revised and abbreviated version of the Adolescent Problems Inventory (API)¹ was used to examine the relationship between social skills deficits and antisocial behavior. A factor analysis of the revised API yielded three factors (immediate Response Demand, Deferred Response Demand, and Antisocial Peer Influence) which were differentially related to specific measures of antisocial responding. Results are discussed in the context of a multifactorial model of juvenile delinquency.     

Features of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and antisocial behaviour in a general population-based sample of adults

Background

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is known to be a risk factor for antisocial and delinquent behaviour, but there is still a lack of information on how features of ADHD relate to offending behaviour among adults not already defined by their offending.

Aims

Our aim was to add to knowledge about relationships between ADHD and antisocial behaviour among adults in the general population by answering the following questions: (A) Does the level of self-reported ADHD features relate to criminal and non-criminal antisocial behaviour? (B) To what extent are self-ratings of ADHD features independent of socio-demographic features previously identified as predictors of antisocial behaviour?

Methods

A sample of adults was originally recruited to study public response to the COVID-19 outbreak through an online panel to be representative of the Israeli population. Among other scales, the 2025 participants completed an ADHD self-report scale, an antisocial behaviour self-report scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire probing for age, gender, urbanity, place of birth, socioeconomic status (education and income), family status (being in a relationship and having children) and religiosity.

Results

Higher mean totals for the inattention and hyperactivity ADHD scale scores were associated with higher mean antisocial behaviour scores. These relationships were only slightly affected by socio-demographic variables, including sex, age, education and income.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that not only may features of ADHD, even below a diagnostic threshold, constitute a risk factor for antisocial behaviour, but also that the self-rated levels of these problems covary. These findings are important for informing the early detection of risk of antisocial behaviour in the general population and its prevention.     

Neural foundations to moral reasoning and antisocial behavior

A common feature of the antisocial, rule-breaking behavior thatis central to criminal, violent and psychopathic individualsis the failure to follow moral guidelines. This review summarizeskey findings from brain imaging research on both antisocialbehavior and moral reasoning, and integrates these findingsinto a neural moral model of antisocial behavior. Key areasfound to be functionally or structurally impaired in antisocialpopulations include dorsal and ventral regions of the prefrontalcortex (PFC), amygdala, hippocampus, angular gyrus, anteriorcingulate and temporal cortex. Regions most commonly activatedin moral judgment tasks consist of the polar/medial and ventralPFC, amygdala, angular gyrus and posterior cingulate. It ishypothesized that the rule-breaking behavior common to antisocial,violent and psychopathic individuals is in part due to impairmentsin some of the structures (dorsal and ventral PFC, amygdalaand angular gyrus) subserving moral cognition and emotion. Impairmentsto the emotional component that comprises the feeling of whatis moral is viewed as the primary deficit in antisocials, althoughsome disruption to the cognitive and cognitive-emotional componentsof morality (particularly self-referential thinking and emotionregulation) cannot be ruled out. While this neurobiologicalpredisposition is likely only one of several biosocial processesinvolved in the etiology of antisocial behavior, it raises significantmoral issues for the legal system and neuroethics.     

Interactions between bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder in trait impulsivity and severity of illness

Swann AC, Lijffijt M, Lane SD, Steinberg JL, Moeller FG. Interactions between bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder in trait impulsivity and severity of illness. Objective: We investigated trait impulsivity in bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) with respect to severity and course of illness. Method: Subjects included 78 controls, 34 ASPD, 61 bipolar disorder without Axis II disorder, and 24 bipolar disorder with ASPD, by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐IV) (SCID‐I and ‐II). Data were analyzed using general linear model and probit analysis. Results: Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS‐11) scores were higher in ASPD (effect sizes 0.5–0.8) or bipolar disorder (effect size 1.45) than in controls. Subjects with both had more suicide attempts and previous episodes than bipolar disorder alone, and more substance‐use disorders and suicide attempts than ASPD alone. BIS‐11 scores were not related to severity of crimes. Conclusion: Impulsivity was higher in bipolar disorder with or without ASPD than in ASPD alone, and higher in ASPD than in controls. Adverse effects of bipolar disorder in ASPD, but not of ASPD in bipolar disorder, were accounted for by increased impulsivity.     

Alcoholism and antisocial personality.

The picture of alcoholism in criminals with an antisocial personality was compared with criminals with other personality disorders. Fewer of those who had an antisocial personality were physically dependent on alcohol than those with other personality disorders. They considered their alcoholism to be a problem and behaved as if it were only rare. However, they had a strong tendency to behave abnormally under the influence of alcohol over and over again. In these respects the situation among those who were below the age of 20 was similar. To a great extent, the fathers of those who had an antisocial personality had also had a tendency towards abnormal behavior under the influence of alcohol. This was not so often found in the control group.     

Adult antisocial personality traits are associated with experiences of low parental care and maternal overprotection

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of parenting in the development of adult antisocial personality traits. METHOD: A total of 742 community-based subjects were assessed for adult DSM-IV antisocial personality disorder traits and for measures of parental behavior experienced as children, including by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). RESULTS: Three fundamental dimensions of parental behavior - care, behavioral restrictiveness and denial of psychological autonomy - were derived by factor analysis from the PBI. These dimensions significantly correlated with measures of parental behavior considered influential in later antisocial behavior. Adult antisocial traits in males were associated with low maternal care and high maternal behavioral restrictiveness, and in females, antisocial traits were associated with low paternal care and high maternal denial of psychological autonomy. These dimensions did not, however, explain all variance parental behavior has on adult antisocial personality traits. CONCLUSION: Adult antisocial personality traits are associated with experiences of low parental care and maternal overprotection.     

Gender and other risk factors associated with risky behaviours among Nigerian adolescents

Risky behaviours in adolescents, apart from substance use, and their associate factors, have not been thoroughly investigated in Nigeria. Hence, there is a need to study the prevalence of risky behaviours and their relationship with gender and other potential risk factors. Data comprising socio-demographic, risky behaviours, personality traits, religious orientation and substance use were obtained from 300 randomly selected secondary school students. Two risk groups (low and high) based on the number of risky behaviours were determined. Male was a risk factor for theft (OR = 2.1; 95%CI = 1.17–3.95), bullying (OR = 2.76; 95%CI = 1.37–5.56) and fighting (OR = 2.14; 95%CI = 1.35–3.40). Fifty-two (17.3%) of the students were of high-risk behaviour group. Furthermore, private school (β = 1.05; P = 0.010), poor perceived relationship with teachers (β = 1.21; P = 0.002), polygamy (β = 1.20; P = 0.002) and lifetime cigarette use (β = 1.07; P = 0.027) were predictors of high-risk behaviour group. Substantial proportion of adolescents in Nigeria exhibit risky behaviours of which gender and other factors play a significant role.     

Childhood trauma history and dissociative experiences among Turkish men diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder

Objective This study investigated the association between antisocial personality disorder (APD), childhood trauma history, and dissociative symptoms in a sample of Turkish recruits. Methods A total of 579 male patients diagnosed with APD were examined in a military hospital setting. An age and gender matched control group of 599 normal persons with no known medical or psychiatric disorder were also chosen among military personnel. The subjects were evaluated with an assessment battery using a semi-structured interview for socio-demographic characteristics, APD section of SCID-II, an adapted version of the Structured Trauma Interview, and Dissociative Experiences Scale. Results Childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and early separation from parents were significantly more common among antisocial subjects than among controls. APD group reported significantly more dissociative symptoms and 50.4% of them reported pathological level of dissociation. Overwhelming childhood experiences of all four types were significant predictor of the APD diagnosis. Analyses also showed that childhood traumatic events and comorbid psychopathological features relevant to antisocial personality were significantly associated with pathological level of dissociation. Conclusion These results revealed the importance of inquiring about patient’s history of childhood traumatization and dissociative experiences when diagnosed with APD.     

Neural bases of antisocial behavior: a voxel-based meta-analysis

Individuals with antisocial behavior place a great physical and economic burden on society. Deficits in emotional processing have been recognized as a fundamental cause of antisocial behavior. Emerging evidence also highlights a significant contribution of attention allocation deficits to such behavior. A comprehensive literature search identified 12 studies that were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis, which compared 291 individuals with antisocial problems and 247 controls. Signed Differential Mapping revealed that compared with controls, gray matter volume (GMV) in subjects with antisocial behavior was reduced in the right lentiform nucleus (P < 0.0001), left insula (P = 0.0002) and left frontopolar cortex (FPC) (P = 0.0006), and was increased in the right fusiform gyrus (P < 0.0001), right inferior parietal lobule (P = 0.0003), right superior parietal lobule (P = 0.0004), right cingulate gyrus (P = 0.0004) and the right postcentral gyrus (P = 0.0004). Given the well-known contributions of limbic and paralimbic areas to emotional processing, the observed reductions in GMV in these regions might represent neural correlates of disturbance in emotional processing underlying antisocial behavior. Previous studies have suggested an FPC role in attention allocation during emotional processing. Therefore, GMV deviations in this area may constitute a neural basis of deficits in attention allocation linked with antisocial behavior.     

Relationship of cognitive ability to the developmental course of antisocial behavior in substance-dependent patients

1. The present study examined cognitive differences among three groups of abstinent substance-dependent patients and a control group of non-drug users. The patient groups were defined according to their DSM III-R substance dependence diagnosis(es): heroin, cocaine, or dual alcohol and cocaine dependence.

2. In the initial analysis, which compared the four subject groups on scores from the Shipley Institute of Living Scale, no significant differences were found. However, the groups did vary on the number of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) behaviors.

3. Another set of analyses was conducted to examine the relationship between ASPD and SILS scores. Analyses of the effects of ASPD (+/−) across all of the patients revealed lower SILS scores in the ASPD-positive group. Additional analyses examined the developmental course of the ASPD effect by contrasting 1) patient groups characterized by childhood Conduct Disorder (CD) combined with adult ASPD vs. 2) childhood CD which did not continue into adulthood as ASPD vs. 3) adults who did not report childhood CD but who met other ASPD behavioral criteria as adults, vs. 4) subjects who had neither childhood CD nor adult ASPD.

4. In this analysis, it was found that patients who met diagnostic criteria for childhood Conduct Disorder, but whose antisocial behaviors resolved after age 15, had equivalent SILS scores to those patients with no childhood CD or adult ASPD. A decrement in SILS scores was only found in those patients whose antisocial behaviors persisted into adulthood.

5. ASPD adults who did not report childhood CD behaviors had normal SILS scores compared to Controls.

Testosterone, antisocial behavior, and social dominance in boys: pubertal development and biosocial interaction.

BACKGROUND: Studies linking testosterone and antisocial behavior in humans have produced mixed results. Adolescence offers a promising period to study this relationship; circulating testosterone increases dramatically in boys during puberty, and antisocial behavior increases during the same period. METHODS: Our analyses were based on boys aged 9-15 years who were interviewed during the first three waves of the Great Smoky Mountains Study. Measures included interview assessment of DSM-IV conduct disorder (CD) symptoms and diagnosis, blood spot measurement of testosterone, Tanner staging of pubertal development, and assessment of leadership behaviors and peer deviance. RESULTS: The adolescent rise in CD was primarily attributable to an increase in nonphysically aggressive behaviors. Increasing levels of circulating testosterone and association with deviant peers contributed to these age trends. There was no evidence that physical aggression was related to high testosterone. Evidence of biosocial interactions was identified; testosterone was related to nonaggressive CD symptoms in boys with deviant peers and to leadership in boys with nondeviant peers. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with the hypothesis that testosterone relates to social dominance, with the assumption that behaviors associated with dominance differ according to social context.