NCJ Number
87143
Journal
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease Volume: 170 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1982) Pages: 257-265
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study, in order to examine the possibility of neuropsychological impairment in juvenile delinquency, assessed 99 adolescents (64 male, 35 female) consecutively admitted to a residential treatment center for delinquents.
Abstract
Assessment instruments included the Halstead-Reitan Battery and 12 additional tests. For comparison purposes, a nondelinquent control group of 47 adolescent volunteers (29 males, 18 females) from regular classroom were also assessed. No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, sex, or handedness. Clinical interpretation of the neuropsychological test profiles revealed a greater percentage of abnormal profiles within the delinquent than nondelinquent group and a specific patterns of deficits implicating anterior dysfunction that was greater in the nondominant (right) than dominant hemisphere. Discriminant function analysis used on 12 neuropsychological test factors or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale subtests correctly classified about 85 percent of the delinquents and nondelinquents. The paper discusses the particular pattern of deficits implicating anterior cerebral dysfunction that was predominantly localized to the right hemisphere regarding a significantly lower than average number of violent adolescents in this sample and the high percentage of delinquents exhibiting characterisics of depression. Study data and 61 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)