Citation

Kaszynski K, Kallis DL, Karnik N, Soller M, Hunter S, Haapanen R, Blair J, Steiner H. Pers. Ment. Health 2014; 8(1): 42-51.

Affiliation

Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University, Fairborn, OH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/pmh.1241

PMID

24532554

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence and comorbidities of personality disorders among incarcerated juveniles and to investigate the validity of these results. METHOD: A sample of 790 incarcerated youth (650 boys and 140 girls; mean age = 16.8 years) completed an assessment of Axis II diagnoses (Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality). Subjects also completed secondary questionnaires assessing anger-irritability (Youth Self-Report (YSR)), aggression (YSR), delinquency (Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-2), and distress and restraint (Weinberger Adjustment Inventory). RESULTS: Personality disorders can be found among incarcerated youth at high rates. Many meet the criteria for more than one personality disorder. Those with personality disorders have significant elevations of anger-irritability, aggression, delinquency, and distress and reduced restraint compared with incarcerated youth without a personality disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that personality disorders can be found in incarcerated youth at high rates. These findings further our understanding of chronic psychiatric illness and possibly criminal recidivism in this at-risk population. Addition of personality measures in the assessment of delinquents may assist in the development of more effective interventions. Furthermore, the supportive convergent validity of these findings in a population younger than 18 years may indicate a need to reassess the current rationale for the diagnosis of Axis II disorders. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: en