Citation

White SF, Brislin S, Sinclair S, Fowler KA, Pope K, Blair RJ. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2013; 54(5): 575-581.

Affiliation

Unit on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02603.x

PMID

22934662

Abstract

Background:  The presence of a large cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) has been previously associated with antisocial behavior/psychopathic traits in an adult community sample. Aims:  The current study investigated the relationship between a large CSP and symptom severity in disruptive behavior disorders (DBD; conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder). Method:  Structural MRI scans of youth with DBDs (N = 32) and healthy comparison youth (N = 27) were examined for the presence of a large CSP and if this was related to symptom severity. Results:  Replicating previous results, a large CSP was associated with DBD diagnosis, proactive aggression, and level of psychopathic traits in youth. However, the presence of a large CSP was unrelated to aggression or psychopathic traits within the DBD sample. Conclusions:  Early brain mal-development may increase the risk of a DBD diagnosis, but does not mark a particularly severe form of DBD within patients receiving these diagnoses.

Language: en