Aggressive Personality Traits Research Articles

Behavioral syndromes in paper wasps: Links between social and non-social personality in Polistes fuscatus

Abstract Although much work has focused on non-social personality traits such as activity, exploration, and neophobia, there is a growing appreciation that social personality traits play an important role in group dynamics, disease transmission, and fitness and that social personality traits may be linked to non-social personality traits. These relationships are important because behavioral syndromes, defined here as correlated behavioral phenotypes, can constrain evolutionary responses. However, the strength and direction of relationships between social and non-social personality traits remain unclear. In this project, we examine social and non-social personality traits, and the relationships between them, in the paper wasp Polistes fuscatus. With a novel assay, we identify 5 personality traits, 2 non-social (exploration and activity), and 3 social (aggression, affiliation, and antennation) personality traits. We also find that social and non-social personality traits are phenotypically linked. We find a positive correlation between aggression and activity and a negative correlation between affiliation and activity. We also find a positive correlation between exploration and activity. Our work is an important step in understanding how phenotypic linkage between social and non-social behaviors may influence behavioral evolution. As a burgeoning model system for the study of genetic and neurobiological mechanisms of social behavior, Polistes fuscatus has the potential to add to this work by exploring the causes and consequences of individual behavioral variation.

Affective Contributions to Instrumental and Reactive Aggression in Middle Childhood: Variable- and Person-Centered Approaches

ABSTRACT Objective Research on the role of affect in childhood aggression motives has largely focused on domain-level affective traits. Lower-order affective facets may show more distinct relationships with instrumental and reactive aggression – at both the variable and individual levels – and offer unique insights into whether and how several forms of affect are involved in aggression motives. Method Caregivers (98% mothers) of 342 children (M age = 9.81 years, 182 girls, 31% White) reported on children’s aggression and affect-relevant personality traits, personality pathology, and callous-unemotional traits. Results Both reactive and instrumental aggressions were characterized by higher levels of trait irritability, fear, withdrawal, sadness, and callous-unemotional traits in zero-order analyses. Instrumental aggression was characterized by low trait positive emotions. Reactive aggression was uniquely associated with irritability, fear, withdrawal, and sadness, whereas instrumental aggression was uniquely associated with callous-unemotional traits and (low) positive emotions. Groups identified by latent profile analyses were differentiated only by aggression severity. Conclusions The findings support both the similarity and distinction of reactive and instrumental aggression vis-à-vis their affective phenomenology. Consistent with existing theories, reactive aggression was linked to multiple forms of negative emotionality, whereas instrumental aggression was linked to higher levels of callous-unemotional traits. In a novel finding, instrumental aggression was uniquely characterized by lower positive emotions. The findings highlight the utility of pre-registered approaches employing comprehensive personality-based affective frameworks to organize and understand similarities and differences between aggression functions.

From Loyal to Saboteur: The impact of Aggression on Consumer-Brand Relationships

Purpose: This study examines the phenomenon of consumer brand sabotage (CBS), with a particular emphasis on exploring the relationships between aggressive personality traits and intentions to engage in CBS. This study specifically investigates that how hostility, rage, physical aggression, verbal aggression, and customer brand sabotage intentions are interrelated. The study's objective is to provide details on the motivations and actions of those who deliberately take action to harm a brand by eroding consumer associations.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: Data for the study comprises a sample of 178 Pakistani university students using survey questionnaires. In order to assess aggressive personality traits, the (Buss and Perry, 2002) aggression scale was used, as well as a scale developed by (Kähr, 2016) and colleagues to gauge customer brand sabotage intentions. In addition, we considered control variables like age, gender, and education.
 Findings: There is a direct link between hostility and customer brand sabotage intentions. Anger and customer brand sabotage intentions were found to have a similar positive and significant relationship. Contrary to expectations, however, verbal or physical aggression was not significantly correlated with customer brand sabotage intentions.
 Implications/Originality/Value: This study makes recommendations for brand managers and marketers that emphasize the importance of understanding and preventing consumer brand sabotage. Furthermore, the paper argues that avoiding CBS might not be immediately compatible with techniques for handling verbal and physical aggression, necessitating the development of novel approaches.

Association Between Suicidal Behaviour and Cannabis and Tranquilizer use, Depression, Aggression and Other Borderline Personality Traits Among Students in Sincelejo, Colombia

ObjectiveThis objective of this study is to examine the association between suicidal behaviour and substance use, depression, aggressiveness and borderline personality traits among adolescents from Sincelejo, a rural city in the north of Colombia. MethodsThis cross sectional study included 352 participants selected by purposive sampling, from a public and a private school located in Sincelejo, Sucre district, in the north of Colombia. Students ages ranged from 12 to 18 years old (mean, 15.09±1.82). The participants completed three screening tools: a socio-demographic questionnaire, a screening instrument to collect information related to the frequency of use of some substances, such as tobacco and cannabis, and a self-report inventory to assess various personality and psychopathology domains. A series of t-tests, ANOVA and linear regression analyses were conducted. ResultsPhysical aggression (t=7.74; p <0.01), cognitive depression (t=5.03; p <0.01), affective depression (t=8.24; p <0.01), affective instability (t=3.46; p <0.01), few social relationships (t=3.36; p <0.01), self-harm (t=3.45; p<.01), cannabis and tranquilizer use (t=2.83; p <0.05; and t=2.37; p <0.05) had a significant independent relationship with suicidal behaviour. Aggression (t=2.59; p <0.05), components of depression (t=9.03; p <0.01) and borderline personality traits (t=4.12; p <0.01) also predicted suicidal behaviour. ConclusionsMore longitudinal studies are needed in this area to identify the causal relations between the factors studied and the suicidal behaviour of young people in Sincelejo.

Correlation Between Aggressive Behavior and Impulsive and Aggressive Personality Traits in Stable Patients with Schizophrenia.

To explore the correlation between aggressive behavior and impulsive and aggressive personality traits in inpatients with schizophrenia. In total, 367 inpatients with schizophrenia were divided into two groups: the aggressive group and the non-aggressive group. We assessed inpatients' psychotic symptoms as well as their aggressive and impulsive personality traits using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Compared with the scores of inpatients in the non-aggressive group, the total Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, subscale, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale behavioral factor scores in those in the aggressive group were higher (p < 0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that a high Positive and Negative Symptom Scale positive factor score (odds ratio = 1.07) and a high Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire physical aggression score (odds ratio = 1.02) were risk factors for aggressive behavior. Hospitalized patients with schizophrenia with more severe positive symptoms and aggressive traits may be more prone to aggressive behavior.

The Role of Basic Psychological Needs in Right-Wing Extremism Risk Among American Conservatives

ABSTRACT Modern psychological theories of violent extremism stress the roles of social connections and personal meaning as motivators for individuals to participate in extremist groups. Personal meaning and social connections are both important aspects of Basic Psychological Needs Theory, a motivation framework commonly used in workplace and educational psychology. This study sought to assess the relationship between Basic Psychological Needs and extremism among (N = 361) self-identified American conservatives. Psychological Need fulfilment was strongly negatively associated with endorsement of extremism (range of rs = −.43 to −.68). In addition, Psychological Need fulfilment explained incremental variance in extremism scores after accounting for other psychological characteristics, including aggression, psychopathy, empathy, and Five-Factor Model personality traits. These findings suggest that Basic Psychological Needs may be a useful framework to expand our understanding of the etiology of extremism, and that prosocial alternatives for meeting these needs may reduce the risk of engaging in extremist behaviors.

Use of social network as a coping strategy for depression among young people during the COVID-19 lockdown: findings from the COMET collaborative study

BackgroundUse of social media (SM) has exponentially grown particularly among youths in the past two years, due to COVID-19-related changing lifestyles. Based on the Italian COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET), we investigated the association between SM use and depressive symptoms among Italian young adults (aged 18–24).MethodsThe COMET is a nationwide multi-center cross-sectional study that investigated socio-demographic data, social networking addiction (BSNAS), depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), as well as impulsiveness (BIS-15) and aggressiveness (AQ) in a large sample of youngsters, in order to assess the association between BSNAS and DASS-21 indices. Mediation analyses were performed to evaluate the role of impulsiveness and aggressive personality traits in the association between SM use (SMU) and depression.Results75.8% of the sample (n = 491) had a problematic SMU. SMU was reduced by high AQ and high DASS-21 scores (F = 42.338, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.207). Mediation analyses showed that SMU negatively predicted depressive symptomatology with the interaction mediated by AQ total (ß = − 0.1075), physical (ß = − 0.207) and anger (ß = − 0.0582), BIS-15 total (ß = − 0.0272) and attentional (ß = − 0.0302). High depressive levels were predicted by high AQ scores, low SMU levels, low verbal and physical AQ, and low attentional BIS-15 (F = 30.322, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.273). Depressive symptomatology negatively predicted SMU with their interaction mediated by AQ total (ß = − 0.1640), verbal (ß = 0.0436) and anger (ß = − 0.0807), BIS-15 total (ß = − 0.0448) and attentional (ß = − 0.0409).ConclusionsSMU during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic could have a beneficial role in buffering negative consequences linked to social isolation due to quarantine measures, despite this association being mediated by specific personality traits.

The Role of the IL-10 (−819C/T), TNFA (−308G/A) and ENOS (−786T/C) Polymorphisms of Impulsive and Aggressive Personality Traits in Cocaine/Crack Users

Cytokines and nitric oxide have been associated with impulsive and aggressive personality traits. We conducted the first study that investigated the role of SNPs in cytokines and nitric oxide genes and the influence in the progression of aggressive and impulsive behavior in 107 of cocaine and crack users. In this case-control, IL-10 (−819C/T), TNFA (−308G/A) and ENOS (−786T/C) polymorphisms were determined by Real-Time PCR. In addition, the relationship between these polymorphisms and Impulsivity and Aggression was determined. We found that the physical aggressiveness sub score was negatively correlated with the C allele of −819C/T polymorphism of the IL-10 (b = −0.14; p = 0.04). The T allele of the SNP −786T/C of the ENOS gene positively predicts traits of physical aggressiveness (b = 0.14; p = 0.04). The GA genotype (b = 0.22; p = 0.01) and the A allele (b = 0.15; p = 0.02) of −308 G/A polymorphism of the TNFA were positively correlated with aggressiveness physical. The GA genotype (b = 0.20; p = 0.03) was positively correlated with aggressiveness verbal. IL-10 (−819C/T), TNFA (−308G/A) and ENOS (−786T/C) polymorphisms might be associated with high risk of aggressive and impulsive behavior.

Prevalence of Bullying Behaviors Among Students From a National University in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate bullying behaviors among college students at one of the national universities in UAE, and also to examine the psychological characteristics of those who were exposed to, or have experienced bullying.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 839 undergraduate students at one of the national universities in the UAE. Students from all colleges participated in this study and were selected by using stratified random sampling. Participants completed a bullying survey designed for the study, in addition to three psychological measures [i.e., Aggression Questionnaire, Buss and Perry, 1992; The Primary Care Anxiety and Depression, El-Rufaie et al., 1997; and the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (PCL-5), Weathers et al., 2013].ResultsThe prevalence rate of students being exposed to or engaged in bullying was 26.3% (221 out of 839). Of those, 72 students (8.7%) reported being bullied, 29 (3.6%) reported bullying others, and 185 (22.8%) reported witnessing friends being bullied. The most common types of bullying reported were traditional bullying (e.g., face-to-face bullying, verbal, and physical). Cyberbullying was not very common. More females reported being bullied in comparison to males and most of the aggressors were peer students. Overall, moderate level of aggressive personality traits and low levels of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD were reported for the total sample. T-tests revealed significant differences in the three psychological measures between those who did not experience bullying and those who did. The mean scores on the Aggression Questionnaire for those who bullied others were significantly higher than those who did not experience bullying.ConclusionExperiences of bullying seem to impact college students’ mental health in the UAE. Therefore, efforts need to focus on developing preventive programs to increase students’ awareness of bullying and its negative impact on campus environment. Offering psychological help for those who were exposed to bullying would help them to deal effectively with this trauma.

Relationship between impulsivity and aggressiveness with mental disorders and suicide risk in cocaine/crack users

the purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between impulsivity/aggressivity traits and mental disorders in cocaine/crack users. A non-probabilistic sample of the 106 subjects from an out-patient center for homeless people and three therapeutics communities in Northeast Brazil was investigated. The version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0 was used to assess lifetime psychiatric disorder. Impulsivity and aggressiveness were used in the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), respectively. Individuals in cocaine/crack use report heightened levels impulsive and aggressive behavior. Linear regression results showed a positive correlation between total impulsivity and abuse of alcohol in our population. Considering impulsivity subscores, low levels of motor impulsivity, suicide risk, generalized anxiety disorder and antisocial personality disorder were negatively correlated. Past hypomanic episode was correlated positively with high non-planning impulsivity scores. These findings highlight the need for a continual investigation of mental disorder and its link with aggressive and impulsive personality traits in the cocaine/crack patients and these data can contribute to stratification for continuity treatment for these patients. Aggressiveness was correlated inversely with suicide risk, psychotic, mood and anxiety disorders. These findings highlight the need for a continual investigation of mental disorder and its link with aggressive and impulsive personality traits in the cocaine/crack patients and these data can contribute to stratification for continuity treatment for these patients.

Антисоциальные и агрессивные черты личности осужденных за убийство

The work is aimed at finding the relationship between dispositional aggression and antiso-cial personality traits of convicted murderers. The study involved criminals who were con-victed of: 1) intentional unlawful taking of another person’s life, i.e. murder (“direct” mur-derers) and 2) illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and analogues (“indirect” murderers). The average age was 39.3±10.8. 33.6% of them were first-time convicted criminals, and 66.4% had previous experience of imprisonment. The study used the “Dark Dozen” questionnaire aimed at measuring subclinical personality traits, two scales of PDT (Psychodiagnostic Test) and the aggressiveness questionnaire by A. Buss and M. Perry. As a result of the study, differences in the antisocial and aggressive personality traits of “direct” and “indirect” murderers were described, as well as the rela-tionship and mutual influence of the antisocial and aggressive personality traits of the crim-inals from these groups.

Reduction of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in Adolescents with Borderline Personality Organization Treated with TFP-A

This study examines whether transference-focused psychotherapy for adolescents (TFP-A) in a dayclinic setting increases the capability to regulate affects and decreases self-destructive behavior in adolescents with borderline personality organization in comparison to treatment as usual (TAU). A total of 120 adolescents consecutively presenting to the dayclinic were allocated to either TFP-A or TAU. They were assessed for aggression, irritability, depression, self-harm, internalizing behavior and pathological personality traits at baseline and after twelve weeks. TFP-A was more effective than TAU in reducing self-harm. Aggression and irritability was improved within the treatment group. These results can be explained by an improvement in affect regulation through a treatment with TFP-A in a dayclinic setting. Further research is necessary in order to assess whether TFP-A reduces self-harm, aggressive behavior and irritability from a long-term perspective and whether these exploratory results can be replicated in independent samples.

Association Between Suicidal Behaviour and Cannabis and Tranquilizer use, Depression, Aggression and Other Borderline Personality Traits Among Students in Sincelejo, Colombia

ObjectiveThis objective of this study is to examine the association between suicidal behaviour and substance use, depression, aggressiveness and borderline personality traits among adolescents from Sincelejo, a rural city in the north of Colombia. MethodsThis cross sectional study included 352 participants selected by purposive sampling, from a public and a private school located in Sincelejo, Sucre district, in the north of Colombia. Students ages ranged from 12 to 18 years old (mean, 15.09±1.82). The participants completed three screening tools: a socio-demographic questionnaire, a screening instrument to collect information related to the frequency of use of some substances, such as tobacco and cannabis, and a self-report inventory to assess various personality and psychopathology domains. A series of t-tests, ANOVA and linear regression analyses were conducted. ResultsPhysical aggression (t=7.74; p <0.01), cognitive depression (t=5.03; p <0.01), affective depression (t=8.24; p <0.01), affective instability (t=3.46; p <0.01), few social relationships (t=3.36; p <0.01), self-harm (t=3.45; p<.01), cannabis and tranquilizer use (t=2.83; p <0.05; and t=2.37; p <0.05) had a significant independent relationship with suicidal behaviour. Aggression (t=2.59; p <0.05), components of depression (t=9.03; p <0.01) and borderline personality traits (t=4.12; p <0.01) also predicted suicidal behaviour. ConclusionsMore longitudinal studies are needed in this area to identify the causal relations between the factors studied and the suicidal behaviour of young people in Sincelejo.

Candidate Aggression and Gendered Voter Evaluations

Politicians frequently use uncivil and even aggressive tactics in political appeals. Aggressive behavior and personality code as masculine, and voters generally value masculine traits in leaders. However, extreme displays may be off‐putting to all but the most aggressive voters. In this article, we theorize how aggressive political displays interact with gendered personality traits to shape candidate evaluations. Which voters punish candidates for aggressive behavior, and which voters give which candidates a pass? We leverage two survey experiments to investigate how voters judge intensely uncivil candidates in a political debate—verbal aggression and a physical dominance display. We find voters penalize (or even reward) candidates differently for aggressive behavior depending on their own aggressive personality traits. Our findings advance research on the distinct effects of gender over sex in politics and studies of aggression dynamics in mass politics. Our results also speak to work on the strategies available to male and female candidates with broader implications for representation and norms in democratic politics.

Time of Day Matters: An Exploratory Assessment of Chronotype in a Forensic Psychiatric Hospital.

A growing body of evidence links the late chronotype to mental illness, aggression, and aversive personality traits. However, much of what we know about these associations is based on healthy cohorts, and it is unclear how individuals with high levels of aggression, including forensic psychiatric populations, but not offenders, are affected. The present study aimed to measure chronotype in a forensic psychiatric inpatient population, evaluate the impact of diagnosis, and identify any interactive relationships between chronotype, diagnosis, aggression, and dark triad traits. Subjects completed the reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire–Short Form (BPAQ-SF), and Short Dark Triad Questionnaire (SD3). We sampled 55 forensic psychiatric patients (52 males) between the ages of 23 and 73 years (mean ± SD: 39.6 ± 14.3 years). Among the patients sampled, 25% were evening types and 36% were morning types. Eveningness was greater in patients with a personality disorder; however, no chronotype differences were found for psychosis patients. Patients without psychosis had a positive association between anger and eveningness, as well as between hostility and eveningness. For subjects with a substance use disorder, morningness was positively associated with narcissism. Conversely, an association between eveningness and greater narcissism was identified in patients who did not have a substance use disorder. These findings suggest that, compared to the general population, evening types are more prevalent in forensic psychiatric populations, with the strongest preference among patients diagnosed with a personality disorder. No differences in chronotype were identified for psychosis patients, which may be related to anti-psychotic medication dosing. Given the sex distribution of the sample, these findings may be more relevant to male populations.

The personality dispositions and resting-state neural correlates associated with aggressive children.

Despite aggression being detrimental to children’s physical health, mental health and social development, the dispositional and neurological antecedents of aggression in the child are poorly understood. Here we examined the relationship between trait aggression as measured by Buss and Warren’s Aggression Questionnaire and personality traits measured with Big Five Questionnaire for Children in 77 primary-school children and recorded resting-state brain activity (fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations [fALFF]) and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The present results showed that trait aggression was negatively correlated with agreeableness and positively correlated with neuroticism. The brain analyses showed that children with a higher propensity for aggression had a lower fALFF mainly in the left superior temporal gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus and left supramarginal gyrus. Physical and total aggressions were negatively associated with rsFC between the right parahippocampal gyrus and the right putamen. Further analysis revealed that this rsFC could moderate the influence of neuroticism on total aggression. Moreover, the results suggest the presence of a sex difference in the neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying aggression in middle childhood. Overall, our findings indicate that aggressive children have lower agreeableness and higher neuroticism, and the underlying neural systems are mainly implicated in social judgment and empathy.

Relationship between Internet addiction, susceptible personality traits, and suicidal and self-harm ideation in Chinese adolescent students

Background and aimsInternet addiction (IA) is common among young students. This study aimed to examine the influence and mechanisms of IA and susceptible personality traits on the impact of suicidal ideation in adolescent students in China.MethodsThis cross-sectional study (09/2012–09/2015) used stratified cluster sampling with “school type” for stratification; 136,266 students from 63 schools completed the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of IA (Young's Internet Addiction Test) and susceptible personality (Barratt impulsiveness scale, Buss & Perry Aggression Questionnaire; and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-R Short Scale) on suicidal ideation (Scale of Suicidal Ideation).ResultsSuicidal ideation was observed in 20,218 (14.77%) of the students, and IA was detected in 28,836 (21.16%) subjects. Compared with those without IA, students with IA had a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation (P < 0.0001). No planning impulsiveness had a predictive effect on suicidal ideation in the impulsive personality trait, while in the aggressive personality trait, hostility and self-aggression had a predictive effect on suicidal ideation (all P < 0.0001). High psychoticism and neuroticism were impact factors for suicidal ideation, but extroversion was a protective factor (all P < 0.0001).DiscussionThese results highlight the importance of assessing personality traits and reducing IA as a possible means of lessening suicidal ideation. Susceptible personality (such as high psychoticism, high neuroticism, and low extroversion) play a prominent role in influencing the probability of having suicidal behavior among those recently exposed to IA.ConclusionsIA and susceptible personality traits were significantly correlated with suicidal and self-harm ideation among adolescent students.

Relationship between Internet addiction, susceptible personality traits, and suicidal and self-harm ideation in Chinese adolescent students.

Internet addiction (IA) is common among young students. This study aimed to examine the influence and mechanisms of IA and susceptible personality traits on the impact of suicidal ideation in adolescent students in China. This cross-sectional study (09/2012-09/2015) used stratified cluster sampling with "school type" for stratification; 136,266 students from 63 schools completed the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of IA (Young's Internet Addiction Test) and susceptible personality (Barratt impulsiveness scale, Buss & Perry Aggression Questionnaire; and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-R Short Scale) on suicidal ideation (Scale of Suicidal Ideation). Suicidal ideation was observed in 20,218 (14.77%) of the students, and IA was detected in 28,836 (21.16%) subjects. Compared with those without IA, students with IA had a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation (P < 0.0001). No planning impulsiveness had a predictive effect on suicidal ideation in the impulsive personality trait, while in the aggressive personality trait, hostility and self-aggression had a predictive effect on suicidal ideation (all P < 0.0001). High psychoticism and neuroticism were impact factors for suicidal ideation, but extroversion was a protective factor (all P < 0.0001). These results highlight the importance of assessing personality traits and reducing IA as a possible means of lessening suicidal ideation. Susceptible personality (such as high psychoticism, high neuroticism, and low extroversion) play a prominent role in influencing the probability of having suicidal behavior among those recently exposed to IA. IA and susceptible personality traits were significantly correlated with suicidal and self-harm ideation among adolescent students.

Management of nonarthritic meniscal tears: a qualitative, patient-centered assessment of decision making

Background: Meniscal lesions are the most common intraarticular knee injury. Treatment involves a decision for conservative management or surgery. Recent literature has demonstrated similar outcomes between these two methods in patients with meniscal tears and minimal arthritis. This study explores factors influencing a patient’s decision to choose operative versus nonoperative management in the treatment of nonarthritic meniscal lesions. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients ages 18 to 50 yr old, with MRI confirmed diagnosis of meniscal tear and minimum of 2-year follow-up. Patients with Kellen-Lawrence Grade 2 or greater, with prior knee injuries, or knee surgeries were excluded. Qualitative analysis was performed to derive codes, categories, and themes. An assessment of patient-reported outcomes including the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Marx activity score was also conducted. Results: Twenty-four patients with meniscal tears were interviewed. Those who chose surgical management with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (n=12) cited significant pain, desire for definitive treatment, and aggressive personality traits. The nonoperative group (n=12) frequently had social constraints precluding surgery, more conservative personalities, and symptoms that did not affect their daily lives. The nonoperative group had significantly lower KOOS scores in symptoms (90.2 vs. 76.5, P=0.05), sports and recreation (84.2 vs. 64.2, P=0.05), and quality of life (QOL) (85.4 vs. 62.0, P=0.01). Conclusions: Psychological and social factors such as pain perception, personality, and time commitments affected patients’ decisions to undergo surgical or conservative management for meniscal tears. This study may help surgeons and other health care professionals better understand and educate patients contemplating surgery. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Aggressive behavior and metacognitive functions: a longitudinal study on patients with mental disorders

BackgroundMetacognitive functions play a key role in understanding which psychological variables underlying the personality might lead a person with a severe mental disorder to commit violent acts against others. The aims of this study were to: (a) investigate the differences between patients with poor metacognitive functioning (PM group) and patients with good metacognitive functioning (GM group) in relation to a history of violence; (b) investigate the differences between the two groups in relation to aggressive behavior during a 1-year follow-up; and (c) analyze the predictors of aggressive behavior.MethodsIn a prospective cohort study, patients with severe mental disorders with and without a lifetime history of serious violence were assessed with a large set of standardized instruments and were evaluated bi-monthly with MOAS in order to monitor any aggressive behavior. The total sample included 180 patients: 56% outpatients and 44% inpatients, and the majority were male (75%) with a mean age of 44 (± 9.8) years, and half of them had a history of violence. The sample was split into two groups: poor metacognition (PM) group and good metacognition (GM) group, according to MAI evaluation scores.ResultsThe PM patients reported a history of violence more frequently than GM patients, during the 1-year follow-up, but no differences between groups in aggressive and violent behavior were found. The strongest predictors of aggressive behavior were: borderline and passive–aggressive personality traits and a history of violence, anger, and hostility. The metacognitive functions alone did not predict aggressive behavior, but metacognitive functions interacted with hostility and angry reactions in predicting aggressive behavior.ConclusionsThis study led to some important conclusions: (a) some aspects closely related to violence are predictive of aggressive behavior only in patients with poor metacognition, thus good metacognition is a protective factor; (b) poor metacognition is associated with a history of violence, which in turn increases the risk of committing aggressive behavior.