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People with schizophrenia (SZ) are at increased risk of violence compared to the general population. However, the neural mechanisms of violent behavior in patients with SZ are still unclear due to the heterogeneity of the diseased population. In this study, we aimed to examine the neural correlates of violent behavior in SZ and to determine whether the structural deficits were related to psychopathic traits. A total of 113 participants, including 31 SZ patients with violent behavior (vSZ), 39 SZ patients without violent behavior (nvSZ), and 43 healthy controls (HC), completed the T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry approach. The psychopathic traits were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV). The results showed decreased gray matter volume (GMV) in the vSZ group in the right temporal lobe and bilateral inferior frontal gyri compared to HCs; while reduced GMV in the inferior parietal lobe, parahippocampal and orbital frontal gyri was found in the nvSZ group compared with HCs. Correlation analyses showed that psychopathic traits were negatively associated with the GMV in the right superior temporal and left fusiform gyri in the vSZ group, indicating that psychopathic traits, as reflected by the score of antisocial factor, might be related to structural deficits in the temporal lobe, which led to a propensity to violent behavior in patients with SZ. Our findings suggest that violent behavior in patients with SZ might have a personality background associated with the frontotemporal network aberrance. In future studies, we need to take a closer look at psychopathic traits for better understanding of the mechanism of interpersonal violence in patients with SZ and to explore whether the imaging findings from this study can serve as a biomarker to predict future violent behaviors and community living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with schizophrenia (SZ) are at increased risk of violence compared to the general population. However, the neural mechanisms of violent behavior in patients with SZ are still unclear due to the heterogeneity of the diseased population. In this study, we aimed to examine the neural correlates of violent behavior in SZ and to determine whether the structural deficits were related to psychopathic traits. A total of 113 participants, including 31 SZ patients with violent behavior (vSZ), 39 SZ patients without violent behavior (nvSZ), and 43 healthy controls (HC), completed the T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry approach. The psychopathic traits were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV). The results showed decreased gray matter volume (GMV) in the vSZ group in the right temporal lobe and bilateral inferior frontal gyri compared to HCs; while reduced GMV in the inferior parietal lobe, parahippocampal and orbital frontal gyri was found in the nvSZ group compared with HCs. Correlation analyses showed that psychopathic traits were negatively associated with the GMV in the right superior temporal and left fusiform gyri in the vSZ group, indicating that psychopathic traits, as reflected by the score of antisocial factor, might be related to structural deficits in the temporal lobe, which led to a propensity to violent behavior in patients with SZ. Our findings suggest that violent behavior in patients with SZ might have a personality background associated with the frontotemporal network aberrance. In future studies, we need to take a closer look at psychopathic traits for better understanding of the mechanism of interpersonal violence in patients with SZ and to explore whether the imaging findings from this study can serve as a biomarker to predict future violent behaviors and community living.

Background: Antisocial personality and psychopathic traits have constantly been found to accompany criminal and aggressive behaviors, but little attention has been given to aspects of character maturity and its relation to such behaviors. The present study investigated 1) whether level of character maturity (low, medium, and high) is associated with amount of aggressive antisocial behaviors and psychopathic traits in young men imprisoned for violent criminality, and 2) whether such an association is independent of coexisting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods: Swedish males (N=270, aged 18-25) sentenced to prison for violent and/or sexual criminality in the western region of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service underwent a thorough clinical examination during their incarceration. Data on character maturity as measured by the character dimensions Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness of the Temperament and Character Inventory were available for n=148 subjects, and used to divide these offenders into three groups with low, medium, and high character maturity. These groups were then compared for variables reflecting criminal history, a DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD, Conduct disorder (CD) and substance use disorders (SUD), aggressive behaviors, and psychopathic traits.Results: Character maturity was consistently associated with less aggressive antisocial behaviors and psychopathic personality traits; the group with the highest character maturity showed; i) a later age at onset of criminality, ii) a smaller number of prior violent criminal acts, iii) lower prevalences of ADHD, CD, and SUD, iv) less self-rated and expert-rated aggressive behaviors, and v) less psychopathic traits. The association between character maturity and aggressive behaviors/psychopathic personality traits remained even when ADHD was controlled for. The only exception was sexual criminality, where the group with the highest character maturity contained the largest amount of sexual offenders.Conclusion: Higher character maturity appeared to be a protective factor among young male violent offenders, associated with less aggressive antisocial behaviors, suggesting that character maturity is a promising target for treatment interventions for this group of individuals.

Background: Antisocial personality and psychopathic traits have constantly been found to accompany criminal and aggressive behaviors, but little attention has been given to aspects of character maturity and its relation to such behaviors. The present study investigated (1) whether level of character maturity (low, medium, and high) is associated with amount of aggressive antisocial behaviors (AABs) and psychopathic traits in young men imprisoned for violent criminality, and (2) whether such an association is independent of coexisting attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Swedish males (N = 270, aged 18-25) sentenced to prison for violent and/or sexual criminality in the western region of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service underwent a thorough clinical examination during their incarceration. Data on character maturity, as measured by the character dimensions Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness of the Temperament and Character Inventory, were available for n = 148 subjects and were used to divide these offenders into three groups with low, medium, and high character maturity. These groups were then compared for variables reflecting criminal history, a DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD, conduct disorder (CD) and substance use disorders (SUD), aggressive behaviors, and psychopathic traits. results: Character maturity was consistently associated with less AABs and psychopathic personality traits; the group with the highest character maturity showed: (i) a later age at onset of criminality, (ii) a smaller number of prior violent criminal acts, (iii) lower prevalence of ADHD, CD, and SUD, (iv) less self-rated and expert-rated aggressive behaviors, and (v) less psychopathic traits. The association between character maturity and aggressive behaviors/psychopathic personality traits remained even when ADHD was controlled for . The only exception was sexual criminality, where the group with the highest character maturity contained the largest amount of sexual offenders. conclusion: Higher character maturity appeared to be a protective factor among young male violent offenders, associated with less AABs, suggesting that character maturity is a promising target for treatment interventions for this group of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]