NCJ Number
227507
Journal
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2009 Pages: 172-188
Date Published
July 2009
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study aimed to identify and validate the existence of discrete subgroups of psychopathy in a large sample of juvenile offenders; and, if found, to compare these subtypes to nonpsychopathic "control" juvenile delinquents.
Abstract
Among the juvenile offenders identified as high in psychopathic traits (132 youths out of 723 who completed interviews), the study was able to differentiate between primary and secondary subtypes based on various theoretically relevant indicator variables. The primary subtype of juvenile offenders with psychopathic traits exhibited lower levels of psychological distress (e.g., anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation) than did the secondary subtypes. In addition, the secondary psychopathy subgroup scored higher on measures of antisocial behavior (e.g., past-year drug use, total self-report delinquency, violent offending, and property offending); and they were more likely to have a history of trauma and a diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) than those in the primary psychopathy subgroup. At the broadest level of comparison, juvenile offenders identified as high in psychopathic traits scored significantly higher on indicators of antisocial behaviors than did youth identified as nonpsychopathic. Implications are discussed for treatment and classification for the purpose of management in institutions. Study participants were drawn from residential rehabilitation services of the Missouri Division of Youth Services. The interviewers used various validated instruments to measure psychopathic traits, psychiatric symptoms, trauma and suicide ideation, ADHD and prescribed medication, past-year substance use, prior delinquent acts, and prior victimization. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 59 references