Antisocial Personality Disorder Patients Research Articles

Oxytocin effects on amygdala reactivity to angry faces in males and females with antisocial personality disorder

The amygdala is a key region in current neurocircuitry models of reactive aggression as it is crucially involved in detecting social threat and provocation. An increased amygdala reactivity to angry faces has been reported in aggression-prone individuals and the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) could dampen anger-related amygdala reactivity in a number of mental disorders. One example is the antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) which has so far only been studied in limited numbers. To address the question whether OT can normalize amygdala hyperreactivity to emotional faces, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment with 20 men and 18 women with ASPD and 20 male and 20 female healthy control (HC) participants in a double-blind, randomized, placebo (PLC)-controlled within-subject design. Participants were exposed to an emotion classification task (fearful, angry, and happy faces) after receiving an intranasal dose (24 IU) of synthetic OT or PLC. We found OT to attenuate right amygdala hyperactivity to angry faces in participants with ASPD to such an extent that the intensity of amygdala activity in the ASPD group in the OT condition decreased to the level of amygdala activity in the PLC condition in the HC group. There was also a trend that OT effects were generally larger in women than in men. These findings suggest that OT differentially modulates the amygdala following social threatening or provoking cues in dependence of psychopathology (ASPD vs. HC) and sex (male vs. female). Particularly female ASPD patients could benefit from OT in the treatment of reactive aggression.

Antisocial personality disorder in group therapy, kindling pro-sociality and mentalizing.

Patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) are known for being difficult to treat. Treatment for ASPD is debated and lacking evidence. Among several reasons for treatment difficulties concerning ASPD, negative countertransference in health personnel is one central topic. Mentalization based treatment (MBT) is a reasonable candidate treatment for ASPD. From an ongoing pilot-study on MBT with substance using ASPD patients, we explore therapist experiences. Four experienced MBT therapists together with the principal investigator performed a focus group together. The therapists were themselves involved in performing this study and analyses are made as an autoethnographic study, with thematic analyses as methodological approach. As this study involved a qualitative investigation of own practice, reflexivity of the processes was performed. The aim was to explore in depth: therapist experiences and therapist wellbeing in MBT-ASPD. We found four main themes on therapist experiences: i) gaining safety by getting to know them better; ii) gaining cooperation through clear boundaries and a non-judgmental stance; iii) shifting inner boundaries; and iv) timing interventions in a high-speed culture. These four themes point to different therapist experiences one can have in MBT-ASPD. Our findings resonate well with the clinical literature on ASPD, the findings imply that clinical teams should have a focus on therapist countertransference and burnout, ensure that therapists uphold boundaries and open-mindedness in treatment of ASPD and that therapists experience vitalizing feelings in this line of work.

Alexithymia, reading the mind in the eyes and empathy in patients with antisocial personality disorder

ObjectivesThis study was undertaken to compare subjects diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and healthy controls in terms of alexithymia, empathy and theory of mind. Material and methodsA total of 43 patients diagnosed with ASPD and 43 healthy controls were included. Study tools administered include the Sociodemographic Data Form, Barratt Impulsivity Scale - Version 11 (BIS-11), Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), Empathy Quotient (EQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). ResultsAs compared to controls, patients had significantly lower RMET and total EQ scores (p<0.001) and significantly higher BIS total and planning, motor and attention, TAS-20 total, identifying feelings, describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking scores (p= 0.002; p=0.008; p <0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001; and p=0.017, respectively). There was a positive significant correlation between RMET and EQ scores (p=0.006, r=0.415), while EQ scores were negatively and significantly correlated with TAS-20 scores (p=0.001, r= -0.487). There was a significant negative correlation between EQ and BIS-11 scores (p< 0.001, r= -0.609), while a positive and significant correlation was identified between TAS-20 and BIS-11 scores (p=0.012, r=0.379). Patients with self-mutilating behaviors had significantly lower total RMET scores than patients without such behaviors (p=0.028). ConclusionIn conclusion, ASPD patients experience difficulty in reading the mind in the eyes, exhibit less empathy toward others, and have more pronounced alexithymia. Our observations suggest that ASPD patients experience challenges in the theory of mind concepts as well as in understanding and identifying the emotions of others and the self. We believe that comprehensive therapy programs specifically developed for ASPD patients and encompassing both the theory of mind and emotional perception may assist in improving these concepts that have significant roles in social interactions.

Explaining the willingness of clinicians to work with patients with antisocial personality disorder using the theory of planned behaviour and emotional reactions.

Many clinicians seem to experience negative emotions towards patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), resulting in the exclusion of patients in many treatment programmes. The behaviour of individuals with ASPD has a significant impact on society, which affects ASPD patients and their environment, and therefore, the exclusion from programmes is a serious concern. Relatively, little is known about why some clinicians are willing to work with ASPD patients and others are not and what factors contribute to an increase in the motivation to do so. In this study, clinicians (n = 130) working in a regular and forensic mental health service in the Netherlands completed a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the Feeling Word Checklist and questions about the relevant experience gained and education received. The current study confirms the limited willingness to work with ASPD patients, especially in regular mental health care. Experience working with ASPD patients, education on cluster B personality disorders and having experienced verbal and/or physical violence in clinical practice did not fully explain whether or not clinicians were motivated to provide treatment to ASPD patients. TPB appeared to predict the intention to provide psychological therapy to ASPD patients adequately. The impact of positive emotions towards ASPD patients on providing treatment appeared to be stronger than negative emotions. This study provides more insight into why so few clinicians are willing to work with ASPD patients and what may increase motivation to include this group in treatment programmes.

SNP rs10420324 in the AMPA receptor auxiliary subunit TARP \u03b3-8 regulates the susceptibility to antisocial personality disorder

In the brain, AMPA receptors mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission, the dysfunction of which leads to neuropsychiatric disorders. Synaptic function of AMPA receptors is tightly controlled by a protein group called transmembrane AMPAR regulatory proteins (TARPs). TARP γ-8 (also known as CACNG8) preferentially expresses in the hippocampus, cortex and subcortical regions that are critical for emotion generation indicating its association with psychiatric disorders. Here, we identified rs10420324 (T/G), a SNP located in the human CACNG8 gene, regulated reporter gene expression in vitro and TARP γ-8 expression in the human brain. A guanine at the locus (rs10420324G) suppressed transcription likely through modulation of a local G-quadruplex DNA structure. Consistent with these observations, the frequency of rs10420324G was higher in patients with anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) than in controls, indicating that rs10420324G in CACNG8 is more voluntary for ASPD. We then characterized the behavior of TARP γ-8 knockout and heterozygous mice and found that consistent with ASPD patients who often exhibit impulsivity, aggression, risk taking, irresponsibility and callousness, a decreased γ-8 expression in mice displayed similar behaviors. Furthermore, we found that a decrease in TARP γ-8 expression impaired synaptic AMPAR functions in layer 2–3 pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that inhibition leads to aggression, thus explaining, at least partially, the neuronal basis for the behavioral abnormality. Taken together, our study indicates that TARP γ-8 expression level is associated with ASPD, and that the TARP γ-8 knockout mouse is a valuable animal model for studying this psychiatric disease.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Among Patients in Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Characteristics and Predictors of Early Relapse or Drop-Out.

BackgroundPatients with alcohol use disorders (AUD) vary significantly in many clinically important characteristics making them a heterogenous group. AUD patients with comorbid antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) form an important sub-group, and studies indicate that these patients may have poorer treatment outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of AUD inpatients with comorbid ASPD and identify predictors of early relapse or treatment drop-out in these patients.MethodsIn a longitudinal study of AUD patients (n = 113; 30 females; aged 27 to 72 years) in treatment at three residential rehabilitation clinics in Norway, we used interviews and self-report questionnaires to collect data on alcohol use, mental health, and trauma experience. In addition, we assessed biochemical parameters. The patients were followed up at 6 weeks to identify early relapse or drop-out.ResultsPrevalence of ASPD among AUD patients was 15%. AUD patients with comorbid ASPD were exclusively male, of younger age, and reported more childhood trauma, and adult attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder symptoms. They reported more hazardous drinking behavior and more often had dependence on substances in addition to alcohol. The presence of ASPD did not predict early relapse or drop-out. However, early relapse or drop-out in ASPD patients was associated with childhood and adult trauma, younger age of drinking debut, and higher baseline prolactin levels.ConclusionAUD patients with ASPD had different clinical characteristics to other AUD patients and they had specific predictors of early relapse or drop-out. Our findings indicate that the early relapse or drop-out among AUD patients with ASPD may be attributed to environmental and possibly biological vulnerability. However, further studies with larger sample size are warranted to confirm these preliminary associations.

Peripheral Inflammatory Parameters in Patients with Antisocial Personality Disorder.

The aim of the study was to examine the peripheral inflammatory parameters in patients with Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) including white blood cell levels, red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), basophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (BLR) by comparing with those of healthy controls. 48 patients diagnosed with APD and a matched healthy control group of 52 individuals were included in our study. Venous blood samples were taken from the participants in the fasting state and at approximately the same time of the day. Socio-demographic data sheet, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) were applied to all of the participants. RDW and basophil cell levels were found significantly higher in the patients than the controls (p=0.005, p=0.038 respectively). BLR was found significantly higher in the participants with alcohol use than those without alcohol use (p=0.016). No significant difference in other laboratory parameters was found between the patient group and the control group. Scores of BDI, BAI, BIS-11, motor impulsivity subscale and physical aggression, anger, hostility and verbal aggression subscales of BDHI, and the total score of BDHI were significantly higher in patients than controls (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.003, p=0.001, p<0.001 respectively). A positive correlation was determined between the scale scores and the RDW, basophil, monocyte, lymphocyte levels among the laboratory parameters, and a negative correlation was determined between the MPV levels and the depression and impulsivity levels. The results of our study suggested that inflammation might play a role in the etiopathogenesis of APD. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the severity of symptoms and some inflammatory parameter levels such as RDW and basophil in APD patients.

Impulsive and premeditated aggression in male offenders with antisocial personality disorder.

IntroductionAggression is a clinical symptom of various psychiatric disorders that can be conceptualised as a physical act towards another person with the intent to cause harm. In antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), aggression is a frequent manifestation that differently compromise therapeutic and prognostic goals according to its impulsive or premeditated categorisation. ASPD is characterised by high levels of impulsivity, psychopathic traits, and a high prevalence of co-morbid substance use disorders (SUDs). Aggression in ASPD patients may determine long and recurrent imprisonment thus representing a challenge clinicians and legal experts face.ObjectivesOur aims were to characterise impulsive and premeditated aggression in male ASPD offenders as well as to determine the potential role of SUDs, impulsivity, and psychopathic traits as predictors.Materials and methodsIn this cross-sectional study we evaluated a sample of ASPD offenders with a battery of clinical and psychometric, standardised instruments: the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), the European Version of the Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), the Barratt Impulsivity Scale Version 11 (BIS-11), and the Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scale (IPAS).ResultsWe used a total sample of 134 offenders, all of whom were male. ASPD patients (n = 96) had a 71.9% prevalence of impulsive aggression and a 28.1% prevalence of premeditated aggression. ASPD patients with impulsive aggression had significantly lower scores of total PCL-R (p<0.01) factor 1 and interpersonal facet 1 (p<0.05), compared with ASPD patients with premeditated aggression. ASPD patients with impulsive aggression and ASPD patients with premeditated aggression had comparable BIS-11 mean scores, and exhibited an equal prevalence of SUDs. The interpersonal facet 1of the PCL-R predicted the aggression type (p<0.05) in ASPD patients, and the exponential beta value for facet 1 was 1.42 (CI = 1.03; 1.95).ConclusionsThe aggression type that is associated with ASPD is mainly impulsive in nature. ASPD patients who have higher scores of psychopathic traits have a lower probability of exhibiting impulsive aggression and a higher probability of exhibiting premeditated aggression. Although ASPD patients have high levels of impulsivity and a high frequency of SUDs, these two variables were not predictors of the aggression type.

Antisocial and Borderline Personality Disorders in the Emergency Department: Conceptualizing and Managing “Malingered” or “Exaggerated” Symptoms

Patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are often suspected of malingering or exaggerating symptoms, though there is no clear evidence that they do so more than other patients. We review the manifestations, etiology, and management of seemingly feigned symptoms in these disorders, particularly related to their presentation in the emergency department (ED). It is dangerous to assume that all patients with ASPD and BPD are intentionally feigning symptoms in the ED. However, when ASPD patients are known to be malingering, the focus should be shifted to addressing the motivation behind malingering and the patient’s true goals, ideally done with a curious rather than confrontational approach. BPD patients also may appear to be malingering or exaggerating symptoms, but their presentation often is more accurately attributed to the lack of ability to mentalize and effectively communicate their needs, as well as emotional hypochondriasis. Education of ED staff, demonstrating genuine concern, and attempting to find a common goal with patients will aid in keeping an objective view of the patient’s distress, minimizing escalation, and optimizing patient outcomes.

Emotional Memory and Emotional Intelligence of Individuals Diagnosed with Anti-Social Personality Disorder: Experimental Pretest-Posttest Design

BACKGROUND: Aim of current study is to compare Emotional Memory (EM) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) between two groups of healthy people and individuals diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).MATERIALS &amp; METHODS: Current study is an experimental pretest-posttest study with case-group and control group, which was conducted between 2014-2015 at Zare Psychiatric hospital (Sari, Mazandaran Province, Iran). Statistical Society of this study was chosen via convenient sampling method; our sample was consisted of 80 individuals (men and women) that were divided into two groups of 40 healthy and 40 patients with APD. Subsequently, they answered to SCID-II (Structured Clinical Interview For DSM Disorders), Baron EQ-I (Emotional Quotient Inventory), WMS (Wechsler Memory Scale) and they looked at Picture Slides (Story). In order to analyze the findings of current study, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, multiple covariance analysis (MANCOVA) and independent t-test were used.RESULTS: The findings showed that antisocial patients demonstrated lower score EM and EI.CONCLUSION: Emotional memory of ASPD individuals tends to be less than normal individuals. Furthermore, emotional intelligence of healthy individuals are higher that ASPD patients. It appears plausible that ASPD individuals tend to suffer in remembering their emotions due to their inability to retrieve emotional memories.

More inflammation but less brain-derived neurotrophic factor in antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is highly comorbid with substance use disorders (SUDs). We hypothesize that chronic neuroinflammation and the loss of neurotrophic factors prompts the pathogenesis of both disorders. We used ELISA to measure plasma levels of proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], C-reactive protein [CRP]) and anti-inflammatory factors (transforming growth factor-β1 [TGF-β1] and interleukin-10 [IL-10]), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in male patients with ASPD (n=74), SUDs (n=168), ASPD comorbid with SUDs (ASPD+SUDs) (n=438), and Healthy Controls (HCs) (n=81). A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) controlled for possible confounders was used to compare cytokines and BDNF levels between groups. The results of MANCOVA adjusted for age showed a significant (p<0.001) main effect of diagnosis on inflammatory factors and BDNF expression in these groups. ASPD, SUDs, and ASPD+SUDs patients had significantly (p<0.001) higher TNF-α levels but lower TGF-β1 and BDNF levels. SUDs and ASPD+SUDs patients had higher IL-10 levels than did ASPD patients and HCs. There was no difference in IL-10 levels between HCs and ASPD. Moreover, subgrouping SUDs and ASPD±SUDs into opioid use disorder (OUD) and other SUDs groups showed that the IL-10 levels were specifically higher in OUD and ASPD±OUD groups than other SUDs (P≤0.001). We conclude that uncontrolled inflammation and losing neurotrophic factors, with or without comorbid SUDs, underlies ASPD. IL-10 expression might be more specifically associated with OUD.

Reduced White Matter Integrity in Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

Emerging neuroimaging research suggests that antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) may be linked to abnormal brain anatomy, but little is known about possible impairments of white matter microstructure in ASPD, as well as their relationship with impulsivity or risky behaviors. In this study, we systematically investigated white matter abnormalities of ASPD using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures: fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD). Then, we further investigated their correlations with the scores of impulsivity or risky behaviors. ASPD patients showed decreased FA in multiple major white matter fiber bundles, which connect the fronto-parietal control network and the fronto-temporal network. We also found AD/RD deficits in some additional white matter tracts that were not detected by FA. More interestingly, several regions were found correlated with impulsivity or risky behaviors in AD and RD values, although not in FA values, including the splenium of corpus callosum, left posterior corona radiate/posterior thalamic radiate, right superior longitudinal fasciculus, and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus. These regions can be the potential biomarkers, which would be of great interest in further understanding the pathomechanism of ASPD.

Clinical differences between cocaine-dependent patients with and without antisocial personality disorder.

The aim of this study is to compare the features of two groups of cocaine dependent patients in treatment, one of them with co-morbid diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder and the other not. Cross-sectional design, with 143 cocaine-dependent patients attending a drug unit, distributed in two groups: patients with and without Antisocial Personality Disorder. As results, we found that the 15.38% of the sample were diagnosed with an Antisocial Personality Disorder. In relation to socio-demographic variables, Antisocial Personality Disorder patients have less probability of being working or studying (9.1% vs. 47.9%). After multivariate analysis it was found that significantly Antisocial Personality Disorder patients have more opiates dependence (OR: 0.219; 95% IC 0.072-0.660), sedative dependence (OR: 0.203; 95% IC 0.062-0.644) and in more cases show Borderline Personality Disorder (OR: 0.239; 95% IC 0.077-0.746). This study highlights significant differences between cocaine addicts with or without an Antisocial Personality Disorder. All these differences are good indicators of the complexity of the patients with this personality disorder. Better knowledge of their profile will help us to improve the design of specific treatment programs.

Reduced cortical thickness and increased surface area in antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), one of whose characteristics is high impulsivity, is of great interest in the field of brain structure and function. However, little is known about possible impairments in the cortical anatomy in ASPD, in terms of cortical thickness (CTh) and surface area (SA), as well as their possible relationship with impulsivity. In this neuroimaging study, we first investigated the changes of CTh and SA in ASPD patients, in comparison to those of healthy controls, and then performed correlation analyses between these measures and the ability of impulse control. We found that ASPD patients showed thinner cortex while larger SA in several specific brain regions, i.e., bilateral superior frontal gyrus (SFG), orbitofrontal and triangularis, insula cortex, precuneus, middle frontal gyrus (MFG), middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and left bank of superior temporal sulcus (STS). In addition, we also found that the ability of impulse control was positively correlated with CTh in the SFG, MFG, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), pars triangularis, superior temporal gyrus (STG), and insula cortex. To our knowledge, this study is the first to reveal simultaneous changes in CTh and SA in ASPD, as well as their relationship with impulsivity. These cortical structural changes may introduce uncontrolled and callous behavioral characteristic in ASPD patients, and these potential biomarkers may be very helpful in understanding the pathomechanism of ASPD.

Disrupted functional connectome in antisocial personality disorder.

Studies on antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) subjects focus on brain functional alterations in relation to antisocial behaviors. Neuroimaging research has identified a number of focal brain regions with abnormal structures or functions in ASPD. However, little is known about the connections among brain regions in terms of inter-regional whole-brain networks in ASPD patients, as well as possible alterations of brain functional topological organization. In this study, we employ resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) to examine functional connectome of 32 ASPD patients and 35 normal controls by using a variety of network properties, including small-worldness, modularity, and connectivity. The small-world analysis reveals that ASPD patients have increased path length and decreased network efficiency, which implies a reduced ability of global integration of whole-brain functions. Modularity analysis suggests ASPD patients have decreased overall modularity, merged network modules, and reduced intra- and inter-module connectivities related to frontal regions. Also, network-based statistics show that an internal sub-network, composed of 16 nodes and 16 edges, is significantly affected in ASPD patients, where brain regions are mostly located in the fronto-parietal control network. These results suggest that ASPD is associated with both reduced brain integration and segregation in topological organization of functional brain networks, particularly in the fronto-parietal control network. These disruptions may contribute to disturbances in behavior and cognition in patients with ASPD. Our findings may provide insights into a deeper understanding of functional brain networks of ASPD.

Aberrant functional brain connectome in people with antisocial personality disorder.

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is characterised by a disregard for social obligations and callous unconcern for the feelings of others. Studies have demonstrated that ASPD is associated with abnormalities in brain regions and aberrant functional connectivity. In this paper, topological organisation was examined in resting-state fMRI data obtained from 32 ASPD patients and 32 non-ASPD controls. The frequency-dependent functional networks were constructed using wavelet-based correlations over 90 brain regions. The topology of the functional networks of ASPD subjects was analysed via graph theoretical analysis. Furthermore, the abnormal functional connectivity was determined with a network-based statistic (NBS) approach. Our results revealed that, compared with the controls, the ASPD patients exhibited altered topological configuration of the functional connectome in the frequency interval of 0.016–0.031 Hz, as indicated by the increased clustering coefficient and decreased betweenness centrality in the medial superior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, Rolandic operculum, superior parietal gyrus, angular gyrus, and middle temporal pole. In addition, the ASPD patients showed increased functional connectivity mainly located in the default-mode network. The present study reveals an aberrant topological organisation of the functional brain network in individuals with ASPD. Our findings provide novel insight into the neuropathological mechanisms of ASPD.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Antisocial Personality Disorder According to the Crime Types

We aimed to evaluate the relation between the crimes committed, and the childhood behavioral problems, current clinical characteristics and anger levels of patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). One hundred and fifty-three patients with ASPD were enrolled. The diagnosis was made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV criteria. DSM-IV conduct disorder criteria and life history inventory was used to assess childhood characteristics. The State-Trait Anger Scale (STAS) was used to assess experience, expression, and control of anger. The main differences between crime groups were as follows: A head trauma history was more frequent in ASPD patients who had a crime history of physical assault. Loss of a parent in childhood was more frequent in individuals who committed burglary. Divorce or separation of the parents in childhood was more frequent in those who committed murder. The usage of weapons in fight during childhood was significantly higher in those who committed murder and aggravated assault. According to STAS scores, the anger control scores were significantly lower in those who committed murder. Childhood and behavioral characteristics of ASPD patients is not homogenous. There is a need for further studies to demonstrate these differences and make a new classification for ASPD.

Brain structure analysis for patients with antisocial personality disorder by MRI

To investigate the structural abnormalities of brain in patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) but without alcoholism and drug abuse. Volunteers from Hunan Reformatory (n=36) and the matched healthy subjects (n=26) were examined by high-spatial resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Voxel-based morphometry and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were generated for each subject to reveal structural abnormalities in patients with ASPD. Compared with the healthy controls, ASPD patients showed significantly higher gray matter volumes in the inferior parietal lobule (P≤0.001, uncorrected), white matter volumes in the precuneus (P≤0.001, uncorrected), FA in the left lingual gyrus, bilateral precuneus, right superior frontal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus (P≤0.01, uncorrected). Our results revealed the abnormal neuroanatomical features in ASPD patients, which might be related to the external behavioral traits in ASPD patients.

Positive and negative urgency and sleep quality among patients with borderline and antisocial personality disorder

Aim of the studyThe aim of the present study was to compare positive and negative urgency as well as sleep quality among patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).Subject or material and methodsThe present study is causal-comparative. The sample includes 50 patients diagnosed with ASPD and 50 patients diagnosed with BPD, as well as 50 healthy persons. Also, all subjects were selected based on availability. The instrument used was Lynam et al Impulse Control Scale and Pittsburg’s Sleep Quality Index .ResultsThe results show that the mean of negative urgency in BPD patients is significantly higher than ASPD patients. Also, the mean of positive urgency in ASPD patients is significantly higher than BPD patients. Dimensions of sleep quality in both BPD and ASPD patients are significantly higher than healthy persons (P&lt;0.01).DiscussionThe results show that a significant difference exists among the BPD and ASPD patients and healthy group in the positive and negative urgency and sleep quality.ConclusionsWe found that BPD and ASPD patients, manifest reckless behaviors when experience, respectively, due to more negative urgency when experiencing negative emotional situations and positive urgency when experiencing positive emotional situations. The both show weaker sleep quality which has diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Changes in Low-Frequency Fluctuations in Patients with Antisocial Personality Disorder Revealed by Resting-State Functional MRI

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) is a personality disorder that is most commonly associated with the legal and criminal justice systems. The study of the brain in APD has important implications in legal contexts and in helping ensure social stability. However, the neural contribution to the high prevalence of APD is still unclear. In this study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms of APD. Thirty-two healthy individuals and thirty-five patients with APD were recruited. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was analyzed for the whole brain of all subjects. Our results showed that APD patients had a significant reduction in the ALFF in the right orbitofrontal cortex, the left temporal pole, the right inferior temporal gyrus, and the left cerebellum posterior lobe compared to normal controls. We observed that the right orbitofrontal cortex had a negative correlation between ALFF values and MMPI psychopathic deviate scores. Alterations in ALFF in these specific brain regions suggest that APD patients may be associated with abnormal activities in the fronto-temporal network. We propose that our results may contribute in a clinical and forensic context to a better understanding of APD.