Control study of Stroop test of male juvenile delinquents with aggressive behaviors / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristic and difference of the executive function of the premeditated group and attack group of male juvenile delinquents by the Stroop test.Methods 123 male juvenile delinquents and 128 normal controls were examined by a general information questionnaire,the Stroop test of the Chinese version and impulsive premeditated aggression scale (IPAS).SPSS17.0 statistical software used to analysis the survey results.Results ( 1 ) By Stroop test the premeditated group and impulsive group of juvenile delinquents was found that correct number of test 3( 109.97 ± 1.87),errors number of test 4(4.45 ±4.84),amend number of test 1 and test 4 ( 1.18 ± 1.50 ; 1.50 ± 1.59 ),and completion time of test 4 ( 143.74 ± 28.36) had statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05 ),the others had no significant difference between the two groups.(2) The premeditated group of juvenile delinquents and normal adolescents in Stroop test comparison was statistically significant in completion time of test 1,test 2 (56.49 ± 14.90 ;88.31 ± 20.02)(P ＜ 0.05 ).The impulse group of the juvenile delinquents and normal adolescents was statistically significant in the correct number of test 2 to test 4( 107.20 ± 3.39 ; 109.97± 1.87 ; 102.47 ± 5.62 ),errors number of test 2 ( 1.86 ± 2.27 ),amends number of test 3 ( 1.50 ± 1.59 ),and completion time of test 1 to test 4 (59.96 ± 11.08 ;92.03 ± 20.87 ;62.77 ± 12.31 ; 143.74 ± 28.36) (P ＜ 0.05 ).The others of two groups were no significant difference.ConclusionIt is found that juvenile delinquents exist defects of executive function,and perform functional defects in the attack group of juvenile delinquents is more obviously.

Relationships between Temperament and Character Dimensions, Family Environmental Factors and Antisocial Personality Traits in Detained Delinquent Adolescents / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between temperament and character dimensions and family environments, and to investigate the influences of those factors on the antisocial personality traits in delinquent adolescents. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 160 male adolescents detained at the public prosecutor's office on the suspicion of crimes. To assess personality dimensions and family environmental factors, the Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI) and the Family Environment Scale(FES) were completed. Antisocial personality traits were assessed by the number of antisocial personality disorder symptoms of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire-Revised. RESULTS: Most of the TCI dimensions except Reward Dependence(RD) were highly correlated with the subscales of FES. Among temperament dimensions, Novelty Seeking(NS) and Persistence(P) were significantly affected by Organization, and Harm Avoidance(HA) was influenced by Expressiveness of FES. Self-Directednss(SD) was best predicted by Organization and Achievement-Orientation. While the Independence had significant effect on Cooperativeness, Expressiveness and Achievement-Orientation best predicted the level of Self-Transcendence(ST). On factor analysis, NS, HA, SD and ST were allocated to the same factors with subscales of FES. The level of antisocial personality trait was best predicted by NS, P and SD scores of TCI, and conflict subscale scores of FES. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that not only the character dimensions but also the temperament dimensions have close relationships with family environmental factors, and that the antisocial personality traits of delinquent adolescents may developed by the interaction between temperament/character dimensions and family environments.

Factors Predicting Recidivism within 6 Months after Release among Arrested Delinquent Adolescents / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the factors predicting recidivism within 6 months after release in arrested juvenile delinquents for proper screening and intervention of high-risk subjects. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 125 arrested male adolescents who were released after legal procedure in prosecutor office and court. The socio-demographic and crime-related characteristics were evaluated by police records, and the familial, psychopathology and personality characteristics, and the level of moral development measured by the Conflict Tactics Scale(CTS), Family Environment Scale(FES), Parental Behavioral Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised(SCL-90-R), Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Korean form of Moral Developmental Inventory for adolescents, and Personality Disorder Questionnaire-Revised(PDQ-R). RESULTS: The recidivism rate within 6 months after release was 44% of the initial sample. Recidivists were younger and had higher scores on Anger-hostility scale of SCL-90-R and lower principle morality score than nonrecidivists. More recidivists had history of physical abuse and antisocial personality disorder on PDQ-R than nonrecidivists. They also showed the crimerelated characteristics of lower percent of violence crime, higher incidence of previous conviction, younger age of the first crime. Among those variables, logistic regression showed that age of first crime, antisocial personality disorder, and history of physical abuse best predicted the recidivism within 6months after release. CONCLUSION: These results of present study suggest that the recidivism rate of arrested male adolescents is very high, and the age of first crime, antisocial personality disorder and history of physical abuse were key factors predicting recidivism. To prevent repeated crime of delinquent adolescents, the development of programs for those high-risk groups to help rehabilitation and adaptation in community would be essential.

Therapeutic Factors in Large Group Psychodrama with Delinquent Adolescents / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study is designed to develop a large group phychodrama for light delin-quent adolescents (hereinafter called as "Psychodrama") thereby determining therapeutic factors for dealing with them. METHODS: The study was conducted in the program of Seoul Metropolitan Youth Centre called "the class of love" during the period of July through December, 1998. The subjects consisted of a total of 827 young delinquents (759 boys and 68 girls, with the average age of 15.9 years old). To develop "this psychodrama", after we composed of therapeutic team centered by psychiatrists, we prepared from January to June, 1998 by practicing psychodrama with delinquent adolescents and by analyzing the results. "This psychodrama" has three basic steps: (1) warming-up (small group me-eting), (2) action (situation drama and main drama), (3) sharing. A survey of treatments, from a pool of participating adolescents, based on evaluation sheets and 13 therapeutic factors scale followed every session of this psychodrama. RESULTS: "This psychodrama" was helpful for 47.4%, interesting for 49.2%, not helpful for 12.1% and not interesting for 16%. In the whole group of subjects, the important therapeutic factors were existential factor, universality, identification with the therapist and the instillation of hope in the order of rank. When categorized in four different groups (audience, participants in situation drama, auxiliary egos, participants in sharing) the 4 groups displayed different results to one another. First, the therapeutic factors of audience were similar to that of the whole group. Second, participants in situation drama showed a higher catharsis than others. Third, auxiliary egos were leading in the guidance of members and therapists. Fourth, participants in sharing displayed higher group cohesiveness. CONCLUSION: As it is getting harder to find program's suitable for the treatment of increasing number of delinquents due to limited budget and experts, this psychodrama could be more cost-effective than any other measures.

A Socio-Psychiatric Study on Family Violence by Delinquent Adolescents / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This research was performed to identify family violence by male adolescencts, and to examine the characteristics of male adolescent delinquents in terms of domestic viloence. METHODS: We surveyed 677 male adolescents including 238 delinquents from BBS(Big brothers and sisters) in Pusan, 209 criminal adolescents from adolescent correctional institution in Pusan, 230 high school students through questionnaire, MMPI(Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), and PBI(Parental Bonding Instrument), and then compared these three groups by Chi-square test, T-test, and Anova. RESULTS: In most cases, male delinquent adolescents were placed in poorer socio-economic conditions than those of students, but in better socio-economic conditions than those of criminal adolescents. In general, the assaulters were senior family members, physically stronger than sufferers, and have bad brotherliness. Compared with normal students, the serious problem of violence including violence to the ancestors in delinquent and criminal adolescents. On results of MMPI and PBI test, there were significant difference between violent group and non-violent group on the Sc score and Passive aggressive index in adolescent delinquents and parental overprotection in normal students. CONCLUSION: Generally the characteristics of family violence by male delinquent adolescents were intermediate between those of criminal adolescent and students, these results were same as those of previous socio-psychiatric study, and so the intervention in criminal adolescents is needed for the pre-vention of family violence.

Personality Factors and Parental Rearing Attitude Affecting Adolescents Attending School and Incarcerated Delinquent Adolescents' Behavior / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of parental rearing attitude between incarcerated delinqent adolescents and adolescents attending school, in order to identifying the relationships between delinquent behavior and personality factors. METHODS: The subjects were composed of 94 incarcerated delinqent adolescents and 112 adolescents attending school. Subjects were required to complete self-report questionnare including PBI and 16 PF. RESULTS: In incarcerated delinqent adolescents, maternal care(MC) was significantly lower than in adolescents attending school and paternal overprotection(PO) was significantly higher than in adolescents attending school. Of the scores of 16 PF, incarcerated delinqent adolescents showed lower scores in intelligence(B), guilt-proneness(O), liberalism(Q1), self-control(Q3), tension(Q4), anxiety(ANX), superego(SUP) and creativity(CRE) than adolescents attending school. Of the correlation between the scores of PBI and 16PF in incarerated delinqent adolescents, each of superego(G), liberalism(Q1), and supergo(SUP) was negatively correlated with maternal overprotection. Liberalism(Q1) was negatively correlated with paternal overprotection. Stableness(C) was positively correlated with paternal care. Each of gulit-proneness(O), liberalism(Q1), self sufficiency(Q2), tension(Q4), and anxiety(ANX) was negatively correlated with paternal care. In adolescents attending school, groups classified by parental bonding pattern indicated that optimal bonding group(Group l) was correlated with more positive aspects of personality factors, and the affectionless control(Group lV) was correlated with more negative aspects of personality factors. In delinquent adolescents, however, results didn't match the above findings. CONCLUSION: The parent-child bonding patterns of incarcerated delinqent adolescents were related to multiple personality factors. In parental rearing of incarcerated delinqent adolescents, maternal care(MC) was lower and paternal overprotection(PO) was higher than in adolescents attending school. We suggest that personality factors of incarcerated delinqent adolescents are correlated with delinquent behaviors. However, early parent-child bonding patterns do not seem to be correlated with later personality development.