Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory Research Articles

P300 to emotionally relevant stimuli as an indicator of aggression levels

Severe acts of aggression have been associated with prefrontal dysfunction. Less severe aggression may be associated with more subtle abnormalities. P300 event-related potentials were recorded from 32 healthy volunteers during a novel modified oddball task. The task required participants to respond only to rare, food words (targets), which occurred randomly among neutral words. Aggressive words appeared randomly with the same frequency as the target words. A median split divided subjects into high- and low-aggression groups based on their scores on the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory. The groups did not differ in their responses to the target words. Participants with higher aggression scores had lowered responses to the aggressive words at the frontal relative to the other electrode sites. Cognitive processing of aggressive stimuli was less efficient at frontal sites in individuals who reported higher levels of aggression. This result extends work showing frontal P300 decrements in more severe aggressive groups, using simple oddball tasks. Aggr. Behav. 32:1–8, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Impulsivity in abstinent early‐ and late‐onset alcoholics: differences in self‐report measures and a discounting task

To test the hypothesis that early-onset alcoholics (EOAs) can be differentiated from late-onset alcoholics (LOAs) by more severe substance-related problems and higher levels of impulsivity and aggression. A cross-sectional patient survey with a community comparison group. The European Addiction Severity Index was used to assess substance-related problems and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Dutch version of the Zuckermann Sensation Seeking Scale and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory were used to assess impulsive and aggressive traits. Impulsive decision making was assessed using a delay discounting task (DDT) with hypothetical monetary rewards. Participants were EOAs (n = 42) and LOAs (n = 46) recruited from an addiction treatment centre and an unmatched, non-substance-abusing comparison group (n = 54). Findings The EOAs had higher levels of impulsive decision making than both the LOAs and the comparison group. The EOAs had higher scores than the LOAs on measures of impulsiveness, aggressiveness and the severity of substance-related problems. This study provides evidence that EOAs are more impulsive and aggressive than LOAs. Further identification of alcoholism subtypes based on dimensions of impulsivity should be considered in the light of their relationship with pharmacological and behavioural treatment interventions.

Major depressive disorder in adolescents: Family psychiatric history predicts severe behavioral disinhibition

Background Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) becomes increasingly prevalent during adolescence and is associated with substantial psychiatric comorbidity and psychosocial impairment. The marked behavioral heterogeneity evident among adolescents with MDD suggests the possibility of distinct subtypes. This study was designed to determine whether family psychiatric histories differ between groups of MDD adolescents defined by the presence or absence of severe behavioral disinhibition. Methods Adolescents with MDD ( n = 71) completed the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory—Adapted, Adolescent Aggressive Incidents Interview (AAII), Measure of Aggression, Violence, and Rage in Children, Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-JR., Suicidal Behavior Inventory, and Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale. Parents completed the Family Informant Schedule and Criteria, Children's Affective Liability Scale, AAII, and a partial DISC. Behavioral disinhibition (BD) measures were used to assign adolescents to MDD + BD ( n = 41) and MDD − BD ( n = 30) groups. Results The MDD + BD group had a higher prevalence of drug use disorders in biological fathers than the MDD − BD group. The MDD + BD group also had higher proportions of paternal second degree relatives with alcohol use disorders, drug use disorders, and psychiatric hospitalizations, and a higher proportion of maternal second degree relatives with antisocial personality disorder. Limitations Limitations include reliance on single informants for family psychiatric histories and the failure to distinguish between child- and adolescent-onset depression. Conclusions Family psychiatric histories differentiated MDD adolescents grouped by the presence or absence of behavioral disinhibition, suggesting possible etiologic mechanisms. Further research on subtypes or comorbid presentations may assist in the development of targeted treatment strategies.

Aggressive/hostile personality traits and injury accidents: an eight-year prospective study of a large cohort of French employees – the GAZEL cohort

Aggressiveness on the roads and/or anger behind the wheel are considered to be a major traffic safety problem in several countries. However, the psychological mechanisms of anger and/or aggression on the roads remain largely unclear. This study examines a large cohort of French employees followed over the period 1994-2001 to establish whether psychometric measures of aggression/hostility were significantly associated with an increased risk of an injury accident (I-A). An I-A was defined as a traffic accident in which someone was injured, that is required medical care. A total of 11,754 participants aged from 39 to 54 years in 1993 were included in this study. Aggression/hostility was measured in 1993 using the French version of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Driving behaviors and I-A were recorded in 2001. Sociodemographic and alcohol consumption data were available from annual follow-up of the cohort. The relationship between aggression/hostility scores and I-A was assessed using negative binomial regression models with time-dependent covariates. The overall BDHI scoring was not statistically predictive of subsequent I-A: adjusted rate ratio (aRR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81-1.28, for participants with intermediate scores and aRR 1.25, 95% CI 0.98-1.61 for those with high scores, both compared to those with low scores. The only BDHI subscales found to be associated with I-A were 'irritability' (aRR 1.33, 95% CI 1.02-1.75 for participants with high scores) and 'negativism' (aRR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01-1.71 for participants with high scores). Overall aggression/hostility personality traits did not predict I-A in this large cohort of French employees, suggesting that aggressiveness on the roads and/or anger behind the wheel extend beyond the individual's general propensity for aggression.

Aggression and Anxiety in Rapists and Child Molesters

This study expands the empirical and theoretical understanding of the distinction between those who perpetrate sexual assaults against children (child molesters) and those who perpetrate them against adults (rapists). Two questionnaires were completed by 88 incarcerated, male sexual offenders (45 child molesters and 43 rapists): the Spielberger state trait anxiety inventory and the Buss-Durkee hostility inventory. It was found that the rapists' level of aggression was significantly higher than that of the child molesters. No significant differences in anxiety levels were found between the two groups. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance to theory and clinical practice.

Open-Label Study of Atypical Neuroleptic Quetiapine for Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Recent studies indicate that atypical neuroleptics may be safe and useful in treating many symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), including impulsivity, which can constitute the core dimension of this pathology. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of quetiapine in patients with well-defined BPD. It was hypothesized that quetiapine would reduce impulsivity (primary hypothesis) and also affective and micropsychotic symptoms, resulting in improved social and global functioning (secondary hypothesis). Twenty-three outpatients with BPD according to DSM-IV criteria and the revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines completed a 12-week open-label study with quetiapine. The study was conducted from May 2001 to May 2003. The clinical efficacy was assessed using the following: Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and Anxiety, Hopelessness Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, Temperament and Character Inventory, Social Adjustment Scale, and Global Assessment of Functioning. The mean daily dose of quetiapine (251 +/- 50 mg; range, 175-400 mg) was well tolerated. Impulsivity was significantly improved by quetiapine (p = .0015), as were most of our outcome measures: hostility, depression, anxiety, character dimensions, and social and global functioning (p < .05). In the small subgroup of patients with psychotic symptoms at baseline, there was a significant reduction in these symptoms (N = 8, p = .018). In a sample of patients with severe BPD without or with only few psychotic symptoms, a low dose of quetiapine was associated with a strong positive clinical impact, including improvement of impulsivity.

Allelic association of a dopamine transporter gene polymorphism with antisocial behaviour in heroin‐dependent patients

Polymorphism of a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the 3' untranslated region of exon 15 of the SLC6A3 gene, coding for the dopamine transporter (DAT), was analysed to test whether length variation contributes to differences in the individual susceptibility to aggressive - criminal behaviour and liability to heroin dependence. The repeat number of the DAT polymorphism was assessed in 125 healthy subjects and 104 heroin-dependent subjects (including 52 addicted individuals with violent behaviour and criminal records). There was no significant difference in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles between heroin-dependent subjects and control subjects. On the contrary, there was a significant difference between offenders and non-offenders, p = 0.004 and p = 0.002, respectively, among heroin-dependent subjects. No association was found between DAT polymorphism and history of suicide. Buss - Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) mean total scores were significantly higher in heroin addicts than in controls (p < 0.001) and in antisocial - violent heroin addicts in comparison with addicted individuals without antisocial behaviour (p < 0.005). The regression analysis of BDHI subscales, performed to provide an estimate of the magnitude of any potential effect on the risk of aggressiveness associated with the variants in DAT VNTR, showed that the presence of the 9 - 9 genotype significantly increases the risk of irritability and direct aggressiveness more than six and 10 times with respect to the 9 - 10 genotype. Our findings suggest that the 9-repeat allele of the DAT polymorphism confers increased susceptibility to antisocial - violent behaviour and aggressiveness, rather than drug dependence per se in heroin-dependent males.

Depression, anxiety, hostility and hysterectomy

Sixty-five women (aged 32 – 54 yrs) were assessed at 2 months before to 8 months after total abdominal hysterectomy on four separate occasions. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS), the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), Measurement of Masculinity-Femininity (MF), Likert scales and semantic differentials for psychological, somatic and sexual factors varied as assessment tools. High-dysphoric and low-dysphoric women were compared with regard to hysterectomy outcomes. Married nulliparae suffered from enhanced depression post-surgery. Pre-surgery anxiety, back pain and lack of dyspareunia contributed to post-surgery anxiety. Pre-surgery anxiety was related to life crises. Pre- and post-surgery hostility occurred in conjunction with poor sexual gratification. Post-hysterectomy health improved, but quality of sexual relationship was impaired. Partner support and knowledge counteracted hysterectomy aftermath. Post-hysterectomy symptoms constituted a continuum to pre-surgery signs of depression, anxiety or hostility.

Hostility and Personality Disorder

The role of hostility in personality disorder (Pd) traits was explored using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the relative contributions of the eight hostility scales. The criterion variables were the personality disorder scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. The participants were 158 first year male and female university students. The results show that Resentment (covert hostility) explains large proportions of variances in borderline, avoidant, schizotypal, passive-aggressive, obsessive-compulsive, and schizoid disorder traits. Verbal hostility (overt hostility) is associated with antisocial, histrionic, and narcissistic Pd traits. Suspiciousness contributes relatively large variances in paranoid disorder traits, whereas guilt is the dominant aspect of dependent Pd traits. The results are explained with reference to the agreeableness versus antagonism facets of the Five-Factor model of personality and Beck's schema construct.

Association of C-reactive protein elevation with trait aggression and hostility in personality disordered subjects: A pilot study

Objective The presence of personality traits of aggression and hostility, in generally healthy human subjects, has been shown to be associated with elevations of C-reactive protein (pCRP), which, in turn, has also been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiac disease. In this pilot study, the author tests the hypothesis that pCRP elevations are associated with the traits of aggression and hostility in personality disordered subjects, a group at high risk for the presence of aggression and hostility. Method Participants were 99 medically healthy subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for personality disorder for which both pCRP levels and Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) Aggression and Hostility data were available. Results Subjects with pCRP levels ⩾1.0 mg/L or higher were found to have significantly higher BDHI Aggression and BDHI Hostility scores than subjects with pCRP levels <1.0 mg/L. Addition of a number of control variables reduced, but did not generally eliminate, differences in the BDHI scores. In contrast, measures of general dimensions of personality did not differ as a function of pCRP Status. Conclusions The association of elevations in pCRP level in medically healthy personality disordered subjects with higher scores of trait aggression and hostility suggests the presence of chronic inflammation in highly aggressive/hostile personality disordered subjects similar to that observed in otherwise healthy individuals at risk for coronary artery disease. Further studies are warranted to determine the clinical correlates of this finding.

Differences in impulsivity and sensation seeking between early- and late-onset alcoholics

The personality traits of impulsivity and sensation seeking have been proposed as important features of early-onset alcoholism. Early-onset (EOA, n = 62) and late-onset (LOA, n = 68 ) alcoholic inpatients were compared as to the severity of their substance use and related problems, and self-report scales measuring impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, version 11), sensation seeking (Sensation Seeking Scale), and aggressiveness (Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory). The symptom severity of the EOAs' alcohol-use disorder and related problems was higher than that of the LOAs. Furthermore, the EOAs had higher levels of impulsivity, sensation seeking, and aggression relative to the LOAs. The differences in impulsivity remained after an analysis controlling for the effect of aggressiveness. Finally, cigarette smoking was positively correlated with impulsiveness across alcoholic subgroups. Active screening for impulsive traits in treatment-seeking alcohol-abusing populations is recommended to improve treatment planning and prevent early drop-out.

Hostility and Recidivism in Sexual Offenders

In this study, we examined the association of hostility, as measured by the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), with offence characteristics and recidivism in 656 adult male sexual offenders. Hostility was significantly associated with having prior violent charges, the use of violence in the index sexual offence, sexual recidivism, and violent recidivism. After controlling for risk level, as measured by a modified version of the Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offence Recidivism (RRASOR-mod), the significant association between hostility and sexual and violent recidivism remained. When examined by type of offender, hostility was significantly associated with recidivism in intrafamilial and extrafamilial child molesters, but not in rapists or mixed offenders. Given the predictive value of hostility independent of the RRASOR-mod, the present findings confirm and encourage treatment efforts directed toward the management of hostility and anger in sexual offenders.

Examination of anxiety, hostility and psychiatric disorders in patients with migraine and tension-type headache

The role of psychological factors related to headache has long been a focus of investigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety, depression, hostility and psychological symptoms in patients with migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) and to compare the results with healthy controls. Seventy-five subjects with migraine and 55 subjects with TTH (according to the criteria of the International Headache Society classification) and a control group including 73 healthy subjects were studied. The Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory, State-trait Anxiety Inventory, Trait form were administered to the subjects. Compared with healthy controls, the patients with headache had significantly higher scores on measures of anxiety, depression and hostility and lower scores on psychological symptoms. The present results indicate the need to distinguish the unique dimensions of anxiety, depression and hostility that should be assessed in the population with headaches.

Association of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism with smoking behavior among adolescents

Serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) genotype was previously found associated with smoking behavior, difficulty in quitting smoking, and nicotine addiction; with non-replicated findings and contrasting results. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible association between 5-HTTLPR genotype and smoking behavior among adolescents, in relationship with psychological characteristics. Two hundred and ten Caucasian high school students (aged 14-19 years); 103 non-smokers, who have never smoked nicotine; and 107 tobacco smokers have been genotyped. Aggressiveness levels and temperamental traits were measured in both smokers and non-smokers, respectively, utilizing Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) and Cloninger Three-Dimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Data about school performance have been also collected. The short-short (SS) genotype frequency was significantly higher among smokers compared with non-smokers (P = 0.023). The odds ratio for the SS genotype versus the long-long (LL) genotype frequency was 1.17 [95% CL (0.30-2.05)], when smokers were compared with non-smokers. The SS genotype frequency was significantly higher among heavy smokers with early onset, compared with moderate smokers with late onset (P = 0.042). BDHI irritability scores, NS scores at TPQ, and school failure frequency were significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Multivariate model-fitting analysis evidenced a significantly greater relationship of genotype with irritability levels (BDHI scores) (0.34, P < 0.001) and temperament traits (NS scores) (0.36, P < 0.001), than with school performance (rate of school under-achievements) (0.18, P < 0.05) and nicotine smoking (number of cigarettes) (0.24, P < 0.01). Accordingly, factor-analysis showed that gene polymorphism contributes more directly to BDHI scores and NS scores (0.73; 0.71) than to smoking behavior and school under-achievement (0.54; 0.51). Our data suggest that a decreased expression of the gene encoding the 5-HTT transporter, due to "S" promoter polymorphism, may be associated with smoking behavior among adolescents and increased risk to develop nicotine dependence, possibly in relationship to personality traits, temperamental characteristics, and school under-achievements.

Serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism genotype is associated with temperament, personality traits and illegal drugs use among adolescents

Serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) genotype was previously found associated with substance use disorders, particularly in the subjects with comorbid antisocial behavior, and with temperament and personality traits at risk for substance abuse. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible association between 5-HTTLPR genotype and the availability to experiment illegal drugs among adolescents, in relationship with psychological characteristics. 216 caucasian high school students (aged 14-19 ys), 125 abstinent subjects, who have never experimented psychotropic drugs, and 91 experimenters of illegal drugs have been genotyped. Aggressiveness levels and temperamental traits were measured in both abstinent subjects and experimenters utilizing respectively Buss-Durkee-Hostility-Inventory (BDHI) and Cloninger Three-dimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Data about school performance have been also collected. The short-short (SS) genotype frequency was significantly higher among experimenters compared with abstinent subjects (p = 0.001). The odds ratio for the SS genotype vs the long-long (LL) genotype frequency was 4.67, 95% Cl (1.97-11.04), when experimenters were compared with abstinent students. The SS genotype frequency was significantly higher among aggressive/novelty seeker (NS) experimenters with poor school achievements, compared with drugs experimenters without aggressiveness and school failure (p = 0.02). When evaluated on the entire sample, BDHI mean total scores, NS scores at TPQ and school failure frequency were significantly higher in SS individuals, in comparison with LL subjects. Our data suggest that a decreased expression of the gene encoding the 5-HTT transporter, due to "S" promoter polymorphism, may be associated with an increased availability to experiment illegal drugs among adolescents, particularly in the subjects with more consistent aggressiveness, NS temperament and learning disabilities.

Pleiotropic effect of the TPH A779C polymorphism on nicotine dependence and personality

Recent studies from molecular genetics have suggested an association between the tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) gene and nicotine addiction indicating a dysfunction of the serotonergic (5-HT) system in smoking behavior. In a sample of 252 healthy subjects, a significant association between variations observed in nicotine dependence and the heterozygous AC-genotype of the TPH A779C polymorphism could be demonstrated. Moreover, the heterozygous genotype was significantly associated with a personality trait of neurotic aggression (indirect hostility, negativism), as measured by the Buss-Durkee-Hostility-Inventory (BDHI). The positive heterosis effects with respect to nicotine addiction and personality support the idea that the TPH1 gene exerts pleiotropic effects.

The Hormonal Basis of Reconciliation in Humans

Developing effective behavioral and psychological mechanisms for coping with social stress was very important in human evolution because humans evolved as social beings. The aggressive and post-aggressive behavior of 30 boys aged 7-11 years was observed during free play in summer camp with the standard "post-conflict-matched control" method (de Waal and Yoshihara, 1983). The focals were the victims of the conflict. Saliva samples for examination of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were taken from each boy in 5 cases: 10 minutes after a conflict with and without reconciliation, matched-control samples next day and morning samples for the basal level. Every boy filled in a sociometry form, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, Eysenk Personality test and the Revised Children's form for the Manifest Anxiety Scale. The stress-reduction role of peacemaking was supported on the physiological level. The level of stress-related hormones was higher when no reunion occurred.

Two Types of Aggression Are Differentially Related to Serotonergic Activity and the A779C TPH Polymorphism.

The authors investigated whether different types of aggression relate to the A779C tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) polymorphism and to serotonergic activity in volunteers. A factor analysis of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory yielded 2 factors representing Neurotic Hostility (NH) and Aggressive Hostility (AH). The authors used a neuroendocrine challenge with Citalopram in 48 volunteers and increased cortisol concentrations only in those with high levels of AH. Finally, an association study with 58 volunteers revealed that the A779C TPH polymorphism significantly relates to AH, with the highest aggression levels for the genotype AA and the lowest aggression levels for the genotype CC, but not to NH. Results are discussed with respect to inconsistent findings in the literature, which may be explained by this distinction of types of aggression.

Aggressive and non‐violent videogames: short‐term psychological and cardiovascular effects on habitual players

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the short‐term effects on several physiological (arterial pressure and heart rate) and psychological (anxiety and aggressiveness) indexes of playing violent and non‐violent videogames in young adults. The study was carried out on a sample of 22 male participants. Subjects invited to participate in the study were recruited from a videogame leisure club. Before and during playing either a violent or non‐violent computer game, blood pressure and heart rate were measured. Before and after the game session, the subjects completed the State‐Anxiety Inventory‐Y (STAI‐Y) and the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory. The results of the study showed a range of short‐term effects of playing violent and non‐violent videogames on arterial pressure and on the state anxiety of subjects, but not on hostility measurements. More specifically, the group that played the violent videogames showed a significant increase in the state anxiety score at the end of the game, as compared to the pre‐game self‐evaluation, and an increase in the systolic blood pressure while the subjects were playing as compared to pre‐ and post‐game values. A decrease in diastolic blood pressure after playing any game was also found. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Cognitive and personality factors associated with assaultive and domestic offenders.

An evaluation of domestic assaultive (n=46), general assaultive (n= 23) and nonassaultive (19 property offenders) groups was performed to compare cognitive (Test of Nonverbal Intelligence), personality (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), aggression (Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory), and criminal sentiments (Carlson Psychological Survey). Analysis showed minimal significant differences amongst the groups. A significant difference was found for the Verbal Hostility subscale of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. The domestic assaultive offenders were similar to the general assaultive and nonviolent offenders, with a greater disparity for the control group. Furthermore, a significant difference was noted for the Hypochondriasis scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The general assaultive and control (n = 15) groups had similar scores, with the greatest difference found for nonviolent offenders who were least anxious. Discriminant analysis showed group membership could be identified for 89.1% of the domestic assaultive group.