PLANNING AND INHIBITORY ABILITIES IN CRIMINALS WITH ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER
Journal Title: Acta Neuropsychologica - Year 2013, Vol 11, Issue 2
Abstract
The aim of our study was to analyze planning and executive control in aggressive offenders diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). The problem of inner diversity in the psychopathic population referring to these executive functions was examined, as well as the impact of executive functions on aggressiveness. Our research involved a group of 130 male subjects: 65 ASPD criminals in the clinical groups and the same number of non-criminals as a control gorup. The Violent Rating Scale and DSM-IV criteria for ASPD were applied; the neuropsychological instruments administered included the Stroop Test and the Tower of London Test;. Our results confirmed the hypothesis that the level of executive functioning was lower in ASPD criminals in relation to both examined cognitive activities: planning and inhibitory control. Surprisingly, no associations were found between the executive indicators and the level of violence. Further investigation led to the conclusion that the ASPD population is heterogeneous in respect to planning capacities. Our findings are consistent with a majority of the scientific reports on executive functioning in the ASPD group, but shed more light on the problematic area of cognitive diversity within psychopaths. One important result from our study for forensic-clinical practice is that Stroop Test evinced better discriminatory power, and thus may be a better tool for determining if a suspected criminal is properly accused.
Authors and Affiliations
Anna Roszyk, Agnieszka Izdebska, Katarzyna Peichert
Keywords
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