Citation

Carli V, Mandelli L, Zaninotto L, Alberti S, Roy A, Serretti A, Sarchiapone M. Nord. J. Psychiatry 2014; 68(1): 8-17.

Affiliation

Vladimir Carli, Department of Health Sciences, University of Molise , via F. De Sanctis, 86100, Campobasso , Italy , and Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, National Prevention of Suicide and Mental Ill-Health (NASP) , 17177, Stockholm , Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/08039488.2012.756061

PMID

23795860

Abstract

Background: One of the major challenges for research in the field of human aggression is the need to define the role of personality and trait-like dimensions, such as impulsivity and aggressiveness, in predisposing to violent behavior. Aims: 1) To determine whether trait- aggressiveness and impulsivity may be associated with socio-demographic, clinical and crime history variables in a sample of male prisoners; 2) to detect any association of those traits with measures of early traumatic experiences and current resilience traits. Methods: A sample of male prisoners (n = 1356) underwent the Brown-Goodwin Assessment for Lifetime History of Aggression (BGLHA) and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). Axis I psychiatric disorders were also assessed. Early traumatic experiences and psychological resilience were detected respectively by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Two non-linear logistic regression models were performed to test for the best predictors of trait-aggressiveness and impulsivity. Results: Subjects with a history of substance use disorders and self-mutilation reported both higher BGLHA and BIS scores. Axis I disorders and suicide attempts were associated with aggressiveness, but not to impulsivity. A consistent correlation was found between BGLHA scores and early traumatic experiences. Resilience was positively correlated to impulsivity but not to aggressiveness scores. Conclusions: Our results support the view that aggressiveness and impulsivity are two different, albeit related trait-like dimensions of personality, having a different relationship with resilience, and, inferentially, a different impact over the development of psychiatric disorders.

Language: en