Brain Abnormalities and Violent Behavior (From Sexual Offender Treatment: Biopsychosocial Perspectives, P 57-64, 2000, Eli Coleman, Ph.D., and Michael Miner, Ph.D., eds. -- See NCJ-190183)

• NCJ Number: 190186
• Author(s): Martin Aigner M.D.; Reinhard Eher M.D.; S. Fruehwald M.D.; Patrick Frottier M.D.; K. Gutierrez-Lobos M.D.; S. Margretta Dwyer Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study attempted to determine whether there was an association between violent behavior and brain abnormalities.

Abstract

The study involved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brains of 96 mentally ill offenders. Offenders were divided into a high violence group or no-to-low violence group. There was no significant difference in age between the two groups. In the sample (n = 82; 50 sex offenders) 48.8 percent had MRI abnormalities. In the high violence group, 65.5 percent showed MRI abnormalities; in the low violence group, 16.6 percent had MRI abnormalities. This difference was significant (p = 0.001). The high violence sex offender group showed an MRI abnormality rate of 59.4 percent, and the low violence sex offender group 22.2 percent. Again, the difference was significant (p = 0.011). The study indicated that there was an association between unspecified brain anomalies and highly violent behavior in the entire sample as well as in the sex offender group. There was no association between sexual offense and unspecified brain abnormalities. The study concluded that the basis for diagnosing such dramatic forms of behavioral disorders should include modern brain imaging techniques such as MRI's to allow patients appropriate treatment and legal protection. Tables, references