Identification of Neuropsychological Subtypes in a Sample of Delinquent Adolescents

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2000

Publication Title

Journal of Psychiatric Research

Volume

34

Issue

2

First page number:

129

Last page number:

132

Abstract

Although research has long recognized a relationship between neurological dysfunction and delinquency, the nature of this relationship is unclear. Based on the theory that there may be clusters of delinquents with different types of neurological dysfunction which contribute to the delinquency in different ways, the present research attempted to identify these subtypes using neuropsychological testing. Seventy-seven such adolescents were administered the full Luria–Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery-III (LNNB-III) and a battery of assessments measuring behavioral functioning and substance use. A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis yielded four identifiable neuropsychological clusters: Verbal/Left-Hemispheric Deficits, Subcortical-Frontal Deficits, Mild-Verbal Deficits, and Normals. The distinctiveness of these subtypes was confirmed by univariate analyses. Results further indicated that the number of LNNB scales that were in the abnormal range differed per subtype, with each subtype differing significantly from one another. These neuropsychological subtypes were found to be associated with specific psychological and behavioral problems.

Keywords

Delinquency; Adolescents; Neuropsychology; Brain damage; Conduct disorder; Luria–Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery

Disciplines

Psychology | Substance Abuse and Addiction

Language

English

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