Differences in frontal lobe function between violent and nonviolent conduct disorder in male adolescents

Abstract

Aims: The objective of the present study was to investigate the differences in frontal lobe function between violent and nonviolent male adolescents with conduct disorder. Methods: A total of 309 male adolescents who had been admitted to the Nagoya Juvenile Classification Home participated. The participants were divided into two groups, a violent group composed of individuals who had committed violence against others, and a nonviolent group. The subjects were given the Wisconsin card sorting test (Keio version: KWCST) and the Iowa Gambling task. The presence of violent cases was analyzed in terms of age, family history (crime, drug abuse/dependence, alcohol-related disorder, and psychiatric treatment), experience of being abused by their parents or by the persons who were responsible for raising them, as well as categories achieved (CA) of KWCST (≤4, >4) and total selection of disadvantage cards of Iowa Gambling task (≥50, <50). Results: Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that a family history of drug abuse/dependence (odds ratio = 0.3, 95% confidence interval = 0.1-0.9) and a CA of the KWCST (odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.0-3.1) were significantly associated with violence. Conclusions: An impaired rate of CA of the KWCST was related to violence, whereas a family history of drug abuse/dependence was related to nonviolence in male adolescents with conduct disorder. © 2009 The Author.