Psychometric properties of the Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scale in Portuguese community and forensic samples / Propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Escala de Agressão Impulsiva e Premeditada em amostras comunitárias e forenses

Abstract Introduction Aggression can be defined according to impulsive or premeditated features. Impulsivity is defined as an uncontrolled and unplanned form of aggression. On the contrary, premeditation requires planning and is goal-oriented. Objective The purpose of this study was to validate the basic psychometric properties of the Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scale (IPAS) into European Portuguese. The scale evaluates aggression according to impulsive and premeditated features, which are considered the predominant forms of aggressive behavior, and can be used in community, forensic and clinical settings. Methods Participants from a community sample (n = 957; 424 male) and incarcerated individuals (n = 115, all male) completed the IPAS. Results Internal consistency and reliability indicated that the scale has good psychometric properties in both samples. Data from a principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated similarities to previous structures reported in the literature. Conclusions The scale demonstrated to be sensitive to the bimodal classification of aggression in community and forensic samples, indicating its utility in the characterization of aggressive patterns.

Resumo Introdução A agressão pode ser definida de acordo com as características de impulsividade ou premeditação. A impulsividade é definida como uma forma descontrolada e não planeada de agressão. Pelo contrário, a premeditação requer planejamento e orienta-se para um objetivo. Objetivos O objetivo deste estudo foi validar as propriedades psicométricas básicas da Escala de Agressão Impulsiva e Premeditada (Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scale - IPAS) para o português europeu. A escala avalia a agressão de acordo com características impulsivas e premeditadas, que são consideradas as formas predominantes do comportamento agressivo, e pode ser usada em contextos comunitário, forense e clínico. Métodos A escala foi aplicada a participantes de uma amostra comunitária (n = 957; 424 homens) e reclusos (n = 115, todos homens). Resultados A consistência interna e a confiabilidade indicaram que a escala possui boas propriedades psicométricas para as duas amostras. Os dados da análise de componentes principais (principal component analysis - PCA) demonstraram semelhanças com estruturas fatoriais previamente reportadas na literatura. Conclusão A escala revelou ser sensível à classificação bimodal da agressão em amostras comunitárias e forenses, indicando sua utilidade na caracterização de padrões agressivos.

Evaluación psicológica de la agresividad impulsiva/predeterminada y factores asociados: Un estudio transversal en usuarios de los servicios de salud en Tabasco, México / Psychological evaluation of impulsive/premeditated aggression and associated factors: a cross-sectional study in users of health services in Tabasco, Mexico

Resumen: INTRODUCCIÓN: La conducta suicida es un problema de salud pública. Se sugiere que la personalidad impulsiva o predeterminada participa en los actos de agresividad como el suicidio. OBJETIVO: En este estudio se identificaron diferencias sociodemográficas, de intento de suicidio y la presencia de depresión entre individuos con característica de agresividad impulsiva o predeterminada. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio de tipo transversal que incluyó a 200 residentes de Villahermosa, Tab., México, usuarios de los servicios de salud en ese Estado. La agresividad predeterminada o impulsiva se caracterizó usando la Escala de Agresión Impulsiva/Predeterminada (IPAS). Las características sociodemográficas, de intento de suicidio y de depresión fueron divididas de acuerdo al tipo de agresividad. Subsecuentemente fueron comparadas las características entre los dos grupos. RESULTADOS: Los resultados psicológicos revelaron que la agresividad impulsiva está presente en 62.71 % de la población. Estar desempleado y ser mujer fueron asociadas con la agresividad predeterminada. De igual forma, la mayor proporción de personas con depresión se observó en el grupo de personas predeterminadas (x2 = 18.29, gl = 1, p = 0.001). La proporción de personas con por lo menos un intento de suicidio a lo largo de la vida es similar en las impulsivas y las predeterminadas (6.06% y 6.30%, respectivamente). DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIÓN: El presente estudio no muestra relación entre la personalidad y la proporción del intento de suicidio en los usuarios de los servicios de salud en Tabasco. Sin embargo, el estado de ánimo podría estar asociado con la toma de decisiones.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Suicidal behaviour is a public health problem. It has been suggested that impulsive or premeditated personality interferes with aggressive acts such as suicide. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we identified the socio-demographic differences when attempting suicide, as well as the concomitant depression among individuals characterized by impulsive or premeditated aggression. METHODS: We performed a transversal study that included 200 residents of Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, who regularly use the city's General Health Services. The premeditated or impulsive aggression was evaluated using the Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression scale (IPAS). The sample was divided in two groups: impulsive and premeditator individuals. Suicidal attempt, presence of depression and socio-demographic characteristics were evaluated after wards and compared between groups. RESULTS: The psychological evaluation revealed that impulsive aggression is present in 62.71% of the population. We observed that being unemployed and/or being a woman were characteristics associated with premeditated aggression. The premeditators group had the higher proportion of concomitant depression (x2 = 18.29, gl = 1, p = 0.001). The proportion of people that had attempted suicide at least once during their lives was similar in both groups (impulsive = 6.06%, premeditators = 6.30%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study does not show any association between the personality (impulsive or premeditative) and the frequency of suicide attempts in the Tabascan General Health Services users. Nevertheless, the frame of mind (depression) could be associated with taking decisions when attempting suicide.

Long-term potentiation and long-term depression: a clinical perspective

Long-term potentiation and long-term depression are enduring changes in synaptic strength, induced by specific patterns of synaptic activity, that have received much attention as cellular models of information storage in the central nervous system. Work in a number of brain regions, from the spinal cord to the cerebral cortex, and in many animal species, ranging from invertebrates to humans, has demonstrated a reliable capacity for chemical synapses to undergo lasting changes in efficacy in response to a variety of induction protocols. In addition to their physiological relevance, long-term potentiation and depression may have important clinical applications. A growing insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, and technological advances in non-invasive manipulation of brain activity, now puts us at the threshold of harnessing long-term potentiation and depression and other forms of synaptic, cellular and circuit plasticity to manipulate synaptic strength in the human nervous system. Drugs may be used to erase or treat pathological synaptic states and non-invasive stimulation devices may be used to artificially induce synaptic plasticity to ameliorate conditions arising from disrupted synaptic drive. These approaches hold promise for the treatment of a variety of neurological conditions, including neuropathic pain, epilepsy, depression, amblyopia, tinnitus and stroke.

The Chinese version of impulsive-premeditated aggression scale in adolescents with aggression:its reliability and validity / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective The purpose of the present study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the impulsive-premeditated aggression scale (IPAS) in a sample of Chinese adolescents with aggression. Methods 126 adolescents completed the IPAS,Barratt impulsive scale and self-report questionnaires. In order to assess test-retest reliability, the IPAS was re-administered to 30 participants 3 weeks later.Results Item analysis showed that IPAS had satisfactory item discrimination, 6 items were excluded in the later analysis. The internal consistency of the IPAS Cronbach alpha was 0.77 and the test-retest reliability was 0.74.Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated two stable factors of aggression with good internal consistency and construct validity, the value of KMO was 0.646, the χ2 value of Bartlett test was 691.93 ( P <0.001). The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the value of χ2/df,GFI,AGFI,RMSEA were 1.42,0.874,0.837 and 0.058 respectively.The whole scale and the two secondly scales all correlated with BIS-11 and MOAS.Conclusion The results of the current study indicate that the Chinese version of the IPAS is a useful tool to subtyping aggressive behavior among adolescents, but it still need to be modified to apply in China.