Trait-aggressiveness and impulsivity: Role of psychological resilience and childhood trauma in a sample of male prisoners. (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carli, Vladimir; Mandelli, Laura; Zaninotto, Leonardo; Alberti, Siegfried; Roy, Alec; Serretti, Alessandro; Sarchiapone, Marco
• Is Part Of: Nordic journal of psychiatry. Volume 68:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.3109/08039488.2012.756061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-9488

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Background:</italic> One of the major challenges for research in the field of human aggression is the need to define the role of personality and trait-like dimensions, such as impulsivity and aggressiveness, in predisposing to violent behavior. <italic>Aims:</italic> 1) To determine whether trait- aggressiveness and impulsivity may be associated with socio-demographic, clinical and crime history variables in a sample of male prisoners; 2) to detect any association of those traits with measures of early traumatic experiences and current resilience traits. <italic>Methods:</italic> A sample of male prisoners (<italic>n = </italic>1356) underwent the Brown–Goodwin Assessment for Lifetime History of Aggression (BGLHA) and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). Axis I psychiatric disorders were also assessed. Early traumatic experiences and psychological resilience were detected respectively by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Two non-linear logistic regression models were performed to test for the best predictors of trait-aggressiveness and impulsivity. <italic>Results:</italic> Subjects with a history of substance use disorders and self-mutilation reported both higher BGLHA and BIS scores. Axis I disorders and suicide attempts were associated with aggressiveness, but not to impulsivity. A consistent correlation was found between BGLHA scores and early traumatic experiences. Resilience was positively correlated to impulsivity but not to aggressiveness scores. <italic>Conclusions:</italic> Our results support the view that aggressiveness and impulsivity are two different, albeit related trait-like dimensions of personality, having a different relationship with resilience, and, inferentially, a different impact over the development of psychiatric disorders.</p> </abstract>