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Social Neuroscience Oct 2022Mirror neurons have been associated with empathy. People with psychopathic traits present low levels of empathy. To analyze this, a systematic review of fMRI studies of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Mirror neurons have been associated with empathy. People with psychopathic traits present low levels of empathy. To analyze this, a systematic review of fMRI studies of people with psychopathic traits during an emotional facial expression processing task was performed. The regions of interest were structures associated with the mirror neuron system: ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), inferior parietal lobe (IPL), inferior frontal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus. The analysis was also extended to structures related to affective empathy (insula, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex) and to two more emotional processing areas (orbitofrontal cortex and fusiform gyrus). Hypoactivation was more frequently observed in regions of the mirror neuron system from people with high psychopathic traits, as well as in the emotional processing structures, and those associated with affective empathy, except for the insula, where it presented higher activity. Differences were observed for all types of emotions. The results suggest that the mirror neuron system is altered in psychopathy and their relationship with affective empathy deficits is discussed.
Topics: Humans; Mirror Neurons; Empathy; Brain Mapping; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Facial Expression; Emotions; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 36151909
DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2022.2128868 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2020Antisocial personality disorder (AsPD) is associated with poor mental health, criminality, substance use and relationship difficulties. This review updates Gibbon 2010... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Antisocial personality disorder (AsPD) is associated with poor mental health, criminality, substance use and relationship difficulties. This review updates Gibbon 2010 (previous version of the review).
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the potential benefits and adverse effects of psychological interventions for adults with AsPD.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, 13 other databases and two trials registers up to 5 September 2019. We also searched reference lists and contacted study authors to identify studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials of adults, where participants with an AsPD or dissocial personality disorder diagnosis comprised at least 75% of the sample randomly allocated to receive a psychological intervention, treatment-as-usual (TAU), waiting list or no treatment. The primary outcomes were aggression, reconviction, global state/functioning, social functioning and adverse events.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.
MAIN RESULTS
This review includes 19 studies (eight new to this update), comparing a psychological intervention against TAU (also called 'standard Maintenance'(SM) in some studies). Eight of the 18 psychological interventions reported data on our primary outcomes. Four studies focussed exclusively on participants with AsPD, and 15 on subgroups of participants with AsPD. Data were available from only 10 studies involving 605 participants. Eight studies were conducted in the UK and North America, and one each in Iran, Denmark and the Netherlands. Study duration ranged from 4 to 156 weeks (median = 26 weeks). Most participants (75%) were male; the mean age was 35.5 years. Eleven studies (58%) were funded by research councils. Risk of bias was high for 13% of criteria, unclear for 54% and low for 33%. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) + TAU versus TAU One study (52 participants) found no evidence of a difference between CBT + TAU and TAU for physical aggression (odds ratio (OR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.28 to 3.07; low-certainty evidence) for outpatients at 12 months post-intervention. One study (39 participants) found no evidence of a difference between CBT + TAU and TAU for social functioning (mean difference (MD) -1.60 points, 95% CI -5.21 to 2.01; very low-certainty evidence), measured by the Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ; range = 0-24), for outpatients at 12 months post-intervention. Impulsive lifestyle counselling (ILC) + TAU versus TAU One study (118 participants) found no evidence of a difference between ILC + TAU and TAU for trait aggression (assessed with Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire-Short Form) for outpatients at nine months (MD 0.07, CI -0.35 to 0.49; very low-certainty evidence). One study (142 participants) found no evidence of a difference between ILC + TAU and TAU alone for the adverse event of death (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.04 to 4.54; very low-certainty evidence) or incarceration (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.86; very low-certainty evidence) for outpatients between three and nine months follow-up. Contingency management (CM) + SM versus SM One study (83 participants) found evidence that, compared to SM alone, CM + SM may improve social functioning measured by family/social scores on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI; range = 0 (no problems) to 1 (severe problems); MD -0.08, 95% CI -0.14 to -0.02; low-certainty evidence) for outpatients at six months. 'Driving whilst intoxicated' programme (DWI) + incarceration versus incarceration One study (52 participants) found no evidence of a difference between DWI + incarceration and incarceration alone on reconviction rates (hazard ratio 0.56, CI -0.19 to 1.31; very low-certainty evidence) for prisoner participants at 24 months. Schema therapy (ST) versus TAU One study (30 participants in a secure psychiatric hospital, 87% had AsPD diagnosis) found no evidence of a difference between ST and TAU for the number of participants who were reconvicted (OR 2.81, 95% CI 0.11 to 74.56, P = 0.54) at three years. The same study found that ST may be more likely to improve social functioning (assessed by the mean number of days until patients gain unsupervised leave (MD -137.33, 95% CI -271.31 to -3.35) compared to TAU, and no evidence of a difference between the groups for overall adverse events, classified as the number of people experiencing a global negative outcome over a three-year period (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.08 to 2.19). The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes was very low. Social problem-solving (SPS) + psychoeducation (PE) versus TAU One study (17 participants) found no evidence of a difference between SPS + PE and TAU for participants' level of social functioning (MD -1.60 points, 95% CI -5.43 to 2.23; very low-certainty evidence) assessed with the SFQ at six months post-intervention. Dialectical behaviour therapy versus TAU One study (skewed data, 14 participants) provided very low-certainty, narrative evidence that DBT may reduce the number of self-harm days for outpatients at two months post-intervention compared to TAU. Psychosocial risk management (PSRM; 'Resettle') versus TAU One study (skewed data, 35 participants) found no evidence of a difference between PSRM and TAU for a number of officially recorded offences at one year after release from prison. It also found no evidence of difference between the PSRM and TAU for the adverse event of death during the study period (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.05 to 14.83, P = 0.94, 72 participants (90% had AsPD), 1 study, very low-certainty evidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is very limited evidence available on psychological interventions for adults with AsPD. Few interventions addressed the primary outcomes of this review and, of the eight that did, only three (CM + SM, ST and DBT) showed evidence that the intervention may be more effective than the control condition. No intervention reported compelling evidence of change in antisocial behaviour. Overall, the certainty of the evidence was low or very low, meaning that we have little confidence in the effect estimates reported. The conclusions of this update have not changed from those of the original review, despite the addition of eight new studies. This highlights the ongoing need for further methodologically rigorous studies to yield further data to guide the development and application of psychological interventions for AsPD and may suggest that a new approach is required.
Topics: Adult; Aggression; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Driving Under the Influence; Female; Humans; Male; Prisoners; Psychotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recidivism; Reward; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32880104
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007668.pub3 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jul 2023: Higher level of aggression and antisocial behavior have been found in the period following head trauma. These changes are attributable to specific brain alterations... (Review)
Review
: Higher level of aggression and antisocial behavior have been found in the period following head trauma. These changes are attributable to specific brain alterations that generally involved frontal lobe, insula and limbic system. A descriptive review was conducted on the specificity of aggressive behavior in relation to traumatic brain injury by evaluating numerous variables, focusing on age at the time of trauma and neuroimaging studies. : We searched on PubMed and the Web of Science databases to screen references of included studies and review articles for additional citations. From an initial 738 publications, only 27 met the search criteria of describing the relationship between aggression, brain alterations and traumatic brain injury. : These findings showed that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is related to changes in behavior, personality and mood. : The development of aggressive and criminal behavior is associated with multiple factors, including the etiology of injury, environmental, psychosocial and personality factors and age at the time of trauma.
Topics: Humans; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Aggression; Brain; Craniocerebral Trauma; Personality
PubMed: 37629667
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59081377 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2023Conduct a systematic review concerning the literature that reflects whether the callous and unemotional traits present in childhood and/or adolescence are precursors in... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Conduct a systematic review concerning the literature that reflects whether the callous and unemotional traits present in childhood and/or adolescence are precursors in the development of female psychopathy in adulthood.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic review involved consulting three databases-EBSCO, the Web of Science, and PubMed-for peer-reviewed and quantitative studies within the period 2000-2023. Nine articles with quality of three and above were included.
RESULTS
The presence of callous and unemotional traits designates a group of youth that show characteristics associated with psychopathy, specifically when predicting a more severe and chronic pattern of antisocial behaviour. Children with high rates of callous and unemotional traits, who show symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in combination with severe conduct problems, are most likely to show features associated with psychopathy. The multidimensional psychopathy construct is considered a better predictor of future and stable antisocial behaviour than the callous and unemotional traits alone model.
CONCLUSIONS
According to the studies selected, the callous and unemotional traits in childhood seem to be precursors of female psychopathy in adulthood, but only because of the way they seem to enhance conduct problems, disruptive behaviour disorders, and, as a possible outcome, delinquency and antisocial traits, which may be precursors of future psychopathy.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Female; Humans; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Databases, Factual; Phenotype; Problem Behavior; PubMed
PubMed: 37754645
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20186786 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Dec 2022Psychopathy is a personality construct that encompasses a constellation of traits reflecting emotional dysfunction and antisocial behavior. This constellation has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Psychopathy is a personality construct that encompasses a constellation of traits reflecting emotional dysfunction and antisocial behavior. This constellation has consistently been linked to poor decision-making, often focused on personal and monetary gains at the others' expense. However, there remains a lack of a systematic examination of how psychopathy is related to the prospect of obtaining monetary gains as a function of social context. Therefore, we conducted a series of meta-analyses to elucidate these relationships. Our findings indicated that elevated levels of psychopathy are related to a reduced tendency to cooperate with others, and no difference in the extent to which knowledge of others' retaliation possibilities informs decision-making. However, the type of social economic decision-making game employed moderated the association between psychopathic traits and total gain obtained, suggesting that context plays a key role in moderating the link between psychopathic features and decision-making. These findings advance our understanding of psychopathy and open new avenues for research on adaptive and maladaptive social behavior in individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits.
Topics: Humans; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Personality
PubMed: 36403791
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104966 -
Neuropsychology Feb 2023Precursors of antisocial behavior in children may be associated with neuropsychological deficits, namely in executive functions (EF). The main objective of this... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Precursors of antisocial behavior in children may be associated with neuropsychological deficits, namely in executive functions (EF). The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize evidence of the relation between EF performance and early manifestations of antisocial behavior in children and adolescents.
METHOD
The procedures of this systematic review and meta-analysis were based on the PRISMA recommendations. The review was based on a systematic search in the EBSCOhost and Pubmed databases. Fifty studies were included in this review, 37 of which contributed with data for meta-analysis. All studies examined the possible relation between the EF measures and behavior problems in childhood and adolescence. Meta-analytical procedures were performed, and the overall effect size was calculated from random-effect models, using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.
RESULTS
A substantial part of the studies report EF deficits in children and adolescents who present behavior problems, revealing that these deficits are already present in youth, long before being associated with antisocial behavior in adults, especially when in comorbidity with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Specifically, typical controls (TC) performed significantly better than disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) groups on measures of = -.35, 95% CI [-0.48, -0.22], < .001. Similar results were found for = -.26, 95% CI [-0.45, -0.07], < .001, = -.30, 95% CI [-0.57, -0.04], = .03, = -.45, 95% CI [-0.71, -0.19], = .001, and = -.31, 95% CI [-0.60, -0.02], = .04. Comparing DBD + ADHD participants with TC, no significant differences were found, either for or for each dimension. Finally, DBD participants performed better than DBD + ADHD participants on measures of = .20, 95% CI [0.08, 0.33], = .002.
CONCLUSION
These findings are in line with neuropsychological theories arguing that executive dysfunctions may interfere with the children's and/or adolescents' ability to control their own conduct, in order to inhibit inappropriate behaviors in favor of the prosocial ones. This review and meta-analysis also identify the main characteristics and potential limitations of the existing studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Child; Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Executive Function; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Memory, Short-Term; Comorbidity
PubMed: 36442005
DOI: 10.1037/neu0000881 -
Clinical Psychology Review Jun 2023The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the diagnostic, the dimensional mean-level, and rank-order stability of personality disorders... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the diagnostic, the dimensional mean-level, and rank-order stability of personality disorders (PDs) and PD criteria over time. EMBASE, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in either English, German, or French between the first publication of the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980 and December 20, 2022. Inclusion criteria were a prospective longitudinal study design, assessing the stability of PDs or PD criteria over at least two measurement occasions at least one month apart, and using the same assessment at baseline and follow-up. Effect sizes included proportion of enduring cases (i.e., diagnostic stability), test-retest correlations (i.e., dimensional rank-order stability), and within-group standardized mean differences (i.e., dimensional mean-level stability), based on the first and last available measurement occasion. From an initial pool of 1473 studies, 40 were included in our analyses, covering 38,432 participants. 56.7% maintained the diagnosis of any PD, and 45.2% maintained the diagnosis of borderline PD over time. Findings on the dimensional mean-level stability indicate that most PD criteria significantly decreased from baseline to follow-up, except for antisocial, obsessive-compulsive, and schizoid PD criteria. Findings on the dimensional rank-order stability suggested moderate estimates, except for antisocial PD criteria, which were found to be high. Findings indicated that both PDs and PD criteria were only moderately stable, although between study heterogeneity was high, and stability itself depended on several methodological factors.
Topics: Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Prospective Studies; Personality Disorders; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
PubMed: 37116251
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102284 -
Child Abuse & Neglect Jun 2023Parental pathology may affect parenting capacity and is deemed a risk factor for child maltreatment. Especially parental personality disorder (PD) can significantly... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Parental pathology may affect parenting capacity and is deemed a risk factor for child maltreatment. Especially parental personality disorder (PD) can significantly burden the relationship and interaction between parents and their children.
OBJECTIVE
This meta-analytic review aims to summarize and quantify the influence of parental PD on the occurrence / the risk of child maltreatment.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
Studies had to meet the following inclusion criteria: They had to analyze a sample of parents with a diagnosed PD and the occurrence / risk of maltreating their children. To be included in the narrative synthesis and/or meta-analysis, they had to be case-control, cross-sectional, or longitudinal studies. Literature research was conducted in the databases Web of Science, Psychinfo, and Google Scholar up to January 2023.
METHODS
First, studies were analyzed on a narrative level, and eligible studies for the meta-analysis were identified. Studies were grouped according to the diagnosed PDs. Five different groups were included: borderline PD, antisocial PD, narcissistic PD, nondifferentiated PDs, and Cluster B PDs. Three different random-effects meta-analyses were computed (borderline PD, antisocial PD, Cluster B PDs). Meta-analyses were controlled for publication bias and different covariates (e.g., study quality, sample size).
RESULTS
After screening 41 full texts, 17 studies were included in the narrative synthesis, out of which 14 samples from 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Analysis of borderline PD showed an association with the occurrence / risk of child maltreatment (OR = 8.08; 95 % CI [2.51, 25.93]). However, after taking into account possible publication bias, this association was no longer significant. We found a significant and stable association between antisocial PD and the occurrence of / risk of child maltreatment (OR = 4.92; 95 % CI [3.26, 7.43]). Analysis of Cluster B PDs (antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic) revealed a significant overall association (OR = 4.23; 95 % CI [2.75, 6.5]), indicating that the presence of Cluster B PDs in parents significantly increases the occurrence of / the risk of child maltreatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Analyses indicated a significant association between of Cluster B PDs, and specifically between antisocial and borderline PD, with the occurrence of / the risk of child maltreatment. However, methodological limitations have to be taken into account, because results for borderline PD were no longer significant after controlling for possible publication bias. Moreover, the number of studies included was rather small, and results showed a substantial amount of heterogeneity.
OTHER
This work was not supported by any funding.
Topics: Humans; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Personality Disorders; Borderline Personality Disorder; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Child Abuse; Parents
PubMed: 37060689
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106148 -
The International Journal of Social... Sep 2023Homeless people present high rates of psychopathology, including personality disorders. Given the link between personality disorders and attachment, and the potential... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Homeless people present high rates of psychopathology, including personality disorders. Given the link between personality disorders and attachment, and the potential importance of these two traits for understanding homeless populations.
AIMS
Our aim was to review all studies focusing on attachment and on the full assessment of personality disorders in the homeless.
METHOD
Overall, 213 studies were screened through title and abstract. Of these, 63 articles were chosen for full-text assessment.
RESULTS
A total of 14 articles met eligibility criteria and were included in the present review. Six studies evaluated personality disorders and eight studies assessed attachment in the homeless. In general, reports suggested that personality disorders are highly common in the homeless, with frequencies ranging between 64% and 79% for any personality disorder. The most common personality diagnoses were paranoid (14%-74%), borderline (6%-62%), avoidant (14%-63%), and antisocial (4%-57%) personality disorders. Attachment reports differed in the methods used and presented diverse results and correlates. Even so, insecure types of attachment dominated in the homeless, accounting for 62% to 100% of the samples.
CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of personality disorders and insecure types of attachment in the homeless may impact intervention strategies for these people. The available literature evaluating attachment and the full assessment of personality disorders in the homeless is scarce, which supports the need for more research on these two topics.
Topics: Humans; Personality Disorders; Psychopathology; Ill-Housed Persons; Prevalence; Personality; Borderline Personality Disorder
PubMed: 36951386
DOI: 10.1177/00207640231161201 -
Brain Sciences May 2022There exist extensive animal research and lesion studies in humans demonstrating a tight association between the hypothalamus and socioemotional behavior. However, human... (Review)
Review
There exist extensive animal research and lesion studies in humans demonstrating a tight association between the hypothalamus and socioemotional behavior. However, human neuroimaging literature in this direction is still rather limited. In order to reexamine the functional role of this region in regulating human social behavior, we here provided a synthesis of neuroimaging studies showing hypothalamic activation during affiliative, cooperative interactions, and in relation to ticklish laughter and humor. In addition, studies reporting involvement of the hypothalamus during aggressive and antisocial interactions were also considered. Our systematic review revealed a growing number of investigations demonstrating that the evolutionary conserved hypothalamic neural circuity is involved in multiple and diverse aspects of human socioemotional behavior. On the basis of the observed heterogeneity of hypothalamus-mediated socioemotional responses, we concluded that the hypothalamus might play an extended functional role for species survival and preservation, ranging from exploratory and approaching behaviors promoting social interactions to aggressive and avoidance responses protecting and defending the established social bonds.
PubMed: 35741594
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12060707