Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Cognitive functioning and aggressive antisocial behaviors in young violent offenders

Wallinius, Märta LU ; Nordholm, Johannes ; Wagnström, Fredrik and Billstedt, Eva (2019) In Psychiatry Research 272. p.572-580
Abstract

Studies have shown that offenders have impaired cognitive abilities yet it is unclear if cognitive dysfunction per se contributes to aggressive antisocial behaviors. Our aims were to (1) determine associations between cognitive functioning and different forms of aggressive antisocial behaviors, (2) describe prevalence of, and covariates to, uneven intellectual profiles, and (3) investigate associations between cognitive functioning and age at onset of aggressive antisocial behaviors. A cohort (n = 269) of 18–25 years old male violent offenders were assessed for general intellectual functioning with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales–third edition, and for executive functions with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated... (More)

Studies have shown that offenders have impaired cognitive abilities yet it is unclear if cognitive dysfunction per se contributes to aggressive antisocial behaviors. Our aims were to (1) determine associations between cognitive functioning and different forms of aggressive antisocial behaviors, (2) describe prevalence of, and covariates to, uneven intellectual profiles, and (3) investigate associations between cognitive functioning and age at onset of aggressive antisocial behaviors. A cohort (n = 269) of 18–25 years old male violent offenders were assessed for general intellectual functioning with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales–third edition, and for executive functions with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Only one measure of cognitive functioning – slower reaction times in a response inhibition test – was significantly correlated with higher occurrence of aggressive, but not exclusively antisocial, behaviors. Furthermore, offenders with even intellectual profiles showed more aggressive antisocial behaviors than offenders with uneven intellectual profiles. Finally, increased errors in tests of cognitive flexibility and slower reaction times in a response inhibition test were associated with a younger age at onset of general, but not exclusively violent, criminality. Overall, effect sizes were small. The findings emphasize the need of research investigating how cognitive functioning in offenders affects susceptibility to treatment interventions.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Criminals, Executive function, Intelligence, Neuropsychology, Prisons, Violence
in
Psychiatry Research
volume
272
pages
9 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:30616126
  • scopus:85059443157
ISSN
0165-1781
DOI
10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.140
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ec786583-6bc9-4b4b-a6a2-4a59ad14e3fb
date added to LUP
2019-01-17 14:32:35
date last changed
2024-03-18 23:23:11
@article{ec786583-6bc9-4b4b-a6a2-4a59ad14e3fb,
  abstract     = {{<p>Studies have shown that offenders have impaired cognitive abilities yet it is unclear if cognitive dysfunction per se contributes to aggressive antisocial behaviors. Our aims were to (1) determine associations between cognitive functioning and different forms of aggressive antisocial behaviors, (2) describe prevalence of, and covariates to, uneven intellectual profiles, and (3) investigate associations between cognitive functioning and age at onset of aggressive antisocial behaviors. A cohort (n = 269) of 18–25 years old male violent offenders were assessed for general intellectual functioning with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales–third edition, and for executive functions with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Only one measure of cognitive functioning – slower reaction times in a response inhibition test – was significantly correlated with higher occurrence of aggressive, but not exclusively antisocial, behaviors. Furthermore, offenders with even intellectual profiles showed more aggressive antisocial behaviors than offenders with uneven intellectual profiles. Finally, increased errors in tests of cognitive flexibility and slower reaction times in a response inhibition test were associated with a younger age at onset of general, but not exclusively violent, criminality. Overall, effect sizes were small. The findings emphasize the need of research investigating how cognitive functioning in offenders affects susceptibility to treatment interventions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wallinius, Märta and Nordholm, Johannes and Wagnström, Fredrik and Billstedt, Eva}},
  issn         = {{0165-1781}},
  keywords     = {{Criminals; Executive function; Intelligence; Neuropsychology; Prisons; Violence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{572--580}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Psychiatry Research}},
  title        = {{Cognitive functioning and aggressive antisocial behaviors in young violent offenders}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.140}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.140}},
  volume       = {{272}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}