Psychopathy and Axis I psychiatric disorders among criminal offenders: relationships to impulsive and proactive aggression

Abstract

Both psychopathology and aggression are heterogeneous constructs. Determining which forms of psychopathology relate to risk for different classes of aggressive behavior has implications for risk recognition and management. This study examined the relationships of impulsive aggression (IA) and proactive aggression (PA) to psychopathy and symptoms of several Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Axis I disorders in a sample of criminal offenders. Results replicated prior findings from community samples of a broad relationship between psychopathology and IA. PA was related only to psychopathy. An interaction was found whereby IA was associated with impulsive-antisocial traits of psychopathy only for individuals with moderate to high levels of generalized anxiety. Results indicate that assessing and treating several Axis I disorders in offenders may decrease risk for IA. Moreover, current findings raise the possibility that generalized anxiety is a key, modifiable component of the relationship between IA and impulsive-antisocial traits.

Predictors of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-harm without lethal intent in a community corrections sample

“…Anxiety and psychopathy occurring in offenders may contribute to a frustration-aggression diathesis that ultimately ends in an impulsive act discharging the tension (Swogger, Walsh, Houston, Cashman-Brown, & Conner, 2010). Symptoms meeting diagnostic criteria for panic disorder were reported in 20% of the sample and were strongly associated with increased likelihood of selfinjury without lethal intent (OR = 4.62, 95% CI = 2.04-10.48), but not suicidal behavior or ideation and attempt.…”

Association of ADHD with reactive and proactive violent behavior in a forensic population

“…Psychopathy can be measured with the psychopathy checklist (PCL; Hare et al 1990) and includes a liability to aggressive behavior and instrumental, proactive aggression in particular (Swogger et al 2010). Fowler and colleagues recently reported elevated total psychopathy and emotional-dysfunction scores according to norms in ADHD adolescents, but none scored in the clinical range of psychopathy (Fowler et al 2009).…”

Gender Differences in Psychopathic Traits, Types, and Correlates of Aggression Among Adjudicated Youth

“…In line with theoretically specified etiologies, evidence for differential correlates has emerged (Kempes et al 2005 for review). Reactive aggression has been uniquely associated with anxiety, negative affectivity, impulsivity, and increased skin conductance reactivity in youth and adult samples (Hubbard et al 2002;Raine et al 2006;Swogger et al 2010). Proactive aggression has been uniquely associated with CU traits (Flight and Forth 2007), which has been explained by a lack of emotional distress and empathy towards victims (e.g., Glenn and Raine 2009).…”