Repository logo
 

Neurocognitive Deficits Associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder in Non-treatment-seeking Young Adults.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Chamberlain, Samuel R 
Derbyshire, Katie L 
Leppink, Eric W 
Grant, Jon E 

Abstract

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a relatively common problem, but the neuropsychological profile of affected individuals has seldom been studied outside of criminal justice recruitment settings. Non-treatment-seeking young adults (18-29 years) were recruited from the general community by media advertisements. Participants with ASPD (n = 17), free from substance use disorders, were compared with matched controls (n = 229) using objective computerized neuropsychological tasks tapping a range of cognitive domains. Compared with controls, individuals with ASPD showed significantly elevated pathological gambling symptoms, previous illegal acts, unemployment, greater nicotine consumption, and relative impairments in response inhibition (Stop-Signal Task) and decision-making (less risk adjustment, Cambridge Gamble Task). General response speed, set-shifting, working memory, and executive planning were intact. ASPD was also associated with higher impulsivity and venturesomeness on the Eysenck Questionnaire. These findings implicate impaired inhibitory control and decision-making in the pathophysiology of ASPD, even in milder manifestations of the disorder. Future work should explore the neural correlates of these impairments and use longitudinal designs to examine the temporal relationship between these deficits, antisocial behavior, and functional impairment.

Description

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Alcoholism, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Female, Gambling, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Male, Mental Disorders, Neuropsychological Tests, Self Report, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult

Journal Title

Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0091-634X
1943-3662

Volume Title

44

Publisher

American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Publisher DOI

Sponsorship
This research was supported by a Center for Excellence in Gambling Research grant by the Institute for Responsible Gaming (U.S.) to Dr. Grant. Dr. Chamberlain's involvement in this study was supported by a grant from the Academy of Medical Sciences (U.K.).