Investigating heterogeneity in violent offending liability among injection drug users from a developmental perspective

INTRODUCTION:

Violence is a major burden of harm among injecting drug users (IDU), however, the liability to violent offending is not well understood. The current study aimed to better understand differences in the liability to violence by determining whether IDU could be disaggregated into distinct violent offending classes, and determining the correlates of class membership.

METHODS:

A total of 300 IDU from Sydney, Australia were administered a structured interview examining the prevalence and severity of drug use and violent offending histories, as well as early life risk factors (maltreatment, childhood mental disorder, trait personality).

RESULTS:

IDU were disaggregated into four distinct latent classes, comprising a non-violent class (24%), an adolescent-onset persistent class (33%), an adult-onset transient class (24%) and an early-onset, chronic class (19%). Pairwise and group comparisons of classes on predispositional and substance use risks showed that the EARLY class had the poorest psychosocial risk profile, while the NON class had the most favourable. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that higher trait impulsivity and aggression scores, having a history of conduct disorder, frequent childhood abuse, and more problematic alcohol use, were independently associated with more temporally stable and severe violent offending. The model explained 67% of variance in class membership (χ²=207.7, df=51, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

IDU can be meaningfully disaggregated into distinct violent offending classes using developmental criteria. The age of onset of violence was indicative of class membership insomuch as that the extent of early life risk exposure was differentially associated with greater long-term liability to violence and drug use.

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By:  Torok M¹, Darke S², Shand F³, Kaye S².

¹National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: m.torok@unsw.edu.au.

²National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

³Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Addict Behav. 2016 Apr 22;60:165-170. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.04.013. [Epub ahead of print] 

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Adolescents as Perpetrators of Aggression within the Family

Although family violence perpetrated by juveniles has been acknowledged as a potentially serious form of violence for over 30 years, scientific studies have been limited to examining the incidence and form of home violence. 


The present study examined the prevalence of family aggression as perpetrated by youths; we examined groups drawn from clinic-referred and forensic samples. Two audits of case files were conducted to systematically document aggression perpetrated by referred youths toward their family members. The purpose of the first audit was fourfold: i) to identify the incidence of the perpetration of family aggression among clinical and forensic samples; ii) to identify whether there were any reports of weapon use during aggressive episodes; iii) to identify the target of family aggression (parents or siblings); and iv) to identify the form of aggression perpetrated (verbal or physical). 

The second audit aimed to replicate the findings and to show that the results were not due to differences in multiple deprivation indices, clinical diagnosis of disruptive behavior disorders, and placement into alternative care. A sampling strategy was designed to audit the case notes of 25 recent forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) cases and 25 demographically similar clinic-referred CAMHS cases in the first audit; and 35 forensic cases and 35 demographically similar clinic-referred CAMHS cases in the second audit. Using ordinal chi-square, the forensic sample (audit 1=64%; audit 2=82.9%) had greater instances of family violence than the clinical sample (audit 1=32%; audit 2=28.6%). 

They were more likely to use a weapon (audit 1=69%; audit 2=65.5%) compared to the clinical sample (audit 1 and 2=0%). Examining only the aggressive groups, there was more perpetration of aggression toward parents (audit 1, forensic=92%, clinical=75%; audit 2, forensic=55.17%, clinical=40%) than toward siblings (audit 1, forensic=43%, clinical=50%; audit 2, forensic=27.58%, clinical=30%). 

Based on these findings, we would urge professionals who work within the child mental health, particularly the forensic area, to systematically collect reports of aggression perpetrated toward family members.

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By:  Kuay HS1, Lee S2, Centifanti LC3, Parnis AC4, Mrozik JH5, Tiffin PA6.

• 1Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Durham, UK; Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, The Adolescent Forensic Outpatient Service, The Westwood Centre, Westlane Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK; School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. Electronic address: h.s.kuay@durham.ac.uk.
• 2Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, The Adolescent Forensic Outpatient Service, The Westwood Centre, Westlane Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK; Sunderland South Tyneside Community Children and Young People's Service, Monkwearmouth Hospital, Sunderland, UK.
• 3Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Durham, UK.
• 4Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, The Adolescent Forensic Outpatient Service, The Westwood Centre, Westlane Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK; Redburn Young Peoples Unit, Ferndene Hospital, Moor Road, Prudhoe, Northumberland, UK.
• 5Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, The Adolescent Forensic Outpatient Service, The Westwood Centre, Westlane Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
• 6Department of Health Sciences, The University of York, Heslington, York, UK; Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, The Adolescent Forensic Outpatient Service, The Westwood Centre, Westlane Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK. 
• Int J Law Psychiatry. 2016 Mar 23. pii: S0160-2527(16)30048-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2016.02.035.

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The Roles of Family Factors and Relationship Dynamics on Dating Violence Victimization and Perpetration among College Men and Women in Emerging Adulthood

Using data from the International Dating Violence Study, this study examined the roles of early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics factors on physical aggression in dating among U.S. college students in emerging adulthood. 

The interaction effects between these three domains of interest (early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics) were explored to understand the underlying mechanisms that influenced victimization and perpetration in dating. 

In general, we found that family and relational variables associated with dating victimization and perpetration were fairly similar. Among the early socialization variables, experience of childhood neglect and having witnessed domestic violence were significantly related to victimization and perpetration. Living in a two-parent household appeared to exert a protective effect, although associations with parental education were not statistically significant. 

Furthermore, the participants were more likely to experience victimization or impose aggression in dating relationships which were characterized by conflicts, distress, dominance, or psychological aggression. Overall, for the participants who came from a two-parent household, dominance in dating was linked to less violence. 

When the participants faced higher levels of psychological aggression, adverse early socialization factors were associated with higher levels of dating violence victimization and perpetration. Research and practice implications were discussed.

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By:  Paat YF1, Markham C2.

• 1The University of Texas at El Paso, USA ypaat@utep.edu.
• 2University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, USA. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Mar 27. pii: 0886260516640544

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The Association between AIDS-Related Stigma & Aggression Toward Gay Men & Lesbians

This study examined whether self-identified race and prior contact with a gay man or lesbian moderate the association between AIDS-related stigma and aggression toward gay men and lesbians when controlling for sexual prejudice. 

A regional, community-recruited sample of 194 heterosexual men (50% Black, 50% White) completed measures of AIDS-related stigma, sexual prejudice, and prior contact with gay men and lesbians. 

Regression analyses showed that AIDS-related stigma was positively associated with aggression toward gay men and lesbians among White men who reported no prior contact, but not among White men who endorsed prior contact and Black men regardless of prior contact. 

Findings suggest that intergroup contact may be a key component to reducing the effects of AIDS-related stigma towards stigmatized groups. Implications for aggression theory and intervention are discussed.

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By:  Vincent W1, Peterson JL2, Parrott DJ2.

• 1Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Division of Prevention Science, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California.
• 2Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. 

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Breaking the Link Between Provocation & Aggression: The Role of Mitigating Information

In two experimental studies, we examine the extent to which strong or weak mitigating information after a provocation alters aggressive responding. 

In Study 1, we randomly assigned 215 (108 female) college-aged participants to a strong or weak provocation by having a research assistant talk to the participant about failing a task in a harsh or confused tone. This was followed by a second research assistant giving a strong or weak excuse to the participant regarding the first research assistant's behavior. Then, aggressive behavior was assessed using a researcher rating task. In Study 2, 63 (25 female) college-aged participants interacted with a confederate on the CRT. All participants were strongly provoked by receiving strong noise blasts. After five CRT trials, the confederate delivered weak or strong mitigating information to the participant regarding the noises blasts. 

The results indicated that: 

1. strong provocations are more likely to increase aggression than weak provocations; 
2. strong mitigating information is more likely to decrease aggression than weak mitigating information; and 
3. (the varying strength of mitigating information is important in situations involving weak, but not strong provocations: 
1. strong mitigating information is more likely than weak mitigating information reduce aggression when provocation is strong, 
2. but not when provocation is weak. 

We discuss the importance of mitigating information in decreasing aggressive behavior and the conditions in which mitigating information is especially likely to be effective.

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By:  Barlett C1, Witkower Z2, Mancini C1, Saleem M3.

• 1Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
• 2Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada.
• 3Department of Communication Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 
• Aggress Behav. 2016 Mar 10. doi: 10.1002/ab.21650.

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Pathways to Romantic Relational Aggression Through Adolescent Peer Aggression & Heavy Episodic Drinking

Adolescent peer aggression is a well-established correlate of romantic relational aggression; however, the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. Heavy episodic drinking (or "binge" alcohol use) was examined as both a prior and concurrent mediator of this link in a sample of 282 12-18 year old interviewed four times over 6 years. 

Path analyses indicated that early peer relational and physical aggression each uniquely predicted later romantic relational aggression. Concurrent heavy episodic drinking fully mediated this effect for peer physical aggression only. 

These findings highlight two important mechanisms by which peer aggression may increase the risk of later romantic relational aggression: a direct pathway from peer relational aggression to romantic relational aggression and an indirect pathway through peer physical aggression and concurrent heavy episodic drinking. 

Prevention programs targeting romantic relational aggression in adolescence and young adulthood may benefit from interventions that target multiple domains of risky behavior, including the heavy concurrent use of alcohol. 

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By:  Woodin EM1, Sukhawathanakul P1, Caldeira V1, Homel J1, Leadbeater B1.

• 1Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
• Aggress Behav. 2016 Mar 16. doi: 10.1002/ab.21651.  

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The Impact of Parenthood on Physical Aggression: Evidence from Criminal Data

Evolutionary approaches to sex differences in physical aggression weigh the potential benefits of aggression against the likely costs to inclusive fitness, with some authors focusing on the damage physical injury would do to female inclusive fitness, and others on the extent to which success in physical competition may particularly enhance male fitness. 

This study tested a hypothesis derived from these approaches: that parents would be less physically aggressive than non-parents because of the damage any physical injury would do to their inclusive fitness. Analysis was carried out using the United States federal sentencing records for 1994-1999 (22,344 individuals). 

The proportion of theft convictions which were violent (robbery; vs. larceny) was significantly greater for men than women (odds ratio 7.7). As predicted, non-parents were significantly more likely to be violent than parents (odds ratio 1.6). Parenthood had a similar effect on relative rates of violence in men and women, although the baseline was considerably higher for men. There was also a significant effect in men of marital status, which interacted with parental status such that parenthood was only associated with a reduction in rates of violence in males recorded as partnered. 

The results are interpreted in terms of both evolutionary theory and recent work on the hormonal impacts of marriage and parenthood. 

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By:  Boothroyd LG1, Cross CP2.

• 1Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.
• 2The School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom. 
• Aggress Behav. 2016 Mar 22. doi: 10.1002/ab.21652.

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Is Violence, in Part, a Lithium Deficiency State?

Violence, particularly firearm violence, leading to suicide and homicide is a significant problem worldwide. A majority of suicidal and homicidal violence involves males; homicidal violence is prevalent among young men and suicide is the leading cause of violence worldwide. 

Lithium, in pharmacological doses, has been used successfully for decades in treating bipolar disorders, and has been shown to decrease violent crime in this situation. Interestingly, lithium, in trace amounts, as occurs in some drinking water, has been inversely related to aggression, and suicidal and homicidal violence. Lithium is naturally found in vegetables, grains and drinking water, and dietary intake varies from nearly zero to 3mg daily. Elemental lithium, in trace doses, has been shown to improve mood in weeks. Moreover, lithium, in trace amounts, has no toxicity. 

In order to ensure adequate dietary intakes of elemental lithium daily for the purpose of decreasing aggression and violence, we propose considering the fortification of cereal grain products with lithium and also the addition of lithium to vitamin preparations for adults. Importantly, randomized trials in various populations are needed to test this hypothesis.

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By:  Goldstein MR¹, Mascitelli L².

¹NCH Physician Group, 1845 Veterans Park Drive, Suite 110, Naples, FL 34109, USA. Electronic address: markrgoldstein@comcast.net.

²Comando Brigata Alpina "Julia"/Multinational Land Force, Medical Service, 8 Via S. Agostino, Udine 33100, Italy. Electronic address: lumasci@libero.it.

Med Hypotheses. 2016 Apr;89:40-2. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Feb 10.

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Functions of Aggression & Delinquency: The Moderating Role of Parent Criminality & Friends' Gang Membership

This study examined the relationships between two functions of aggression (i.e., reactive and proactive) and delinquency, including the moderating effects of parent criminality and friends' gang membership, in a sample of 1,027 Singaporean adolescents from Grade 7 to Grade 9, with age ranging from 12 to 19 years (M = 14.10, SD = 1.15). 

Findings suggested that both reactive aggression and proactive aggression significantly and positively predicted delinquency (after controlling for proactive aggression and reactive aggression, respectively), with proactive aggression being a stronger predictor. Friends' gang membership was found to moderate the relationship between reactive aggression and delinquency, and proactive aggression and delinquency, with stronger moderator effects for the latter. Those who were aggressive proactively and who had friends in a gang appear to be impacted most negatively with respect to delinquency. Parent criminality did not moderate these relationships. 

These findings highlight the need to effectively address the issues of child and adolescent aggression. Also, developing positive peer relations early is crucial for delinquency prevention.

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By:  Ang RP1, Huan VS2, Li X2, Chan WT2.

• 1National Institue of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore rebecca.ang@nie.edu.sg.
• 2National Institue of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Mar 2. pii: 0886260516636066.

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Are Experiences of Family & of Organized Violence Predictors of Aggression & Violent Behavior? A Study with Unaccompanied Refugee Minors

BACKGROUND:

There is strong support for familial abuse as a risk factor for later delinquency and violent offending, whereas empirical evidence about the contribution of experienced organized violence to the cycle of violence is less clear. Nevertheless not all abused children do become violent offenders. This raises the question of which factors influence these children's risk of future aggressive behavior. Recent evidence suggests that the trait of appetitive aggression plays an important role in the prediction of aggressive behavior.

OBJECTIVE:

The focus of the study is to investigate whether exposures to 1) organized; and 2) family violence equally contribute to aggressive behavior and how this is related to a trait of appetitive aggression. Furthermore it is of interest to uncover how the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms modulates associations between violent experiences and aggression.

METHOD:

To answer these questions, we investigated unaccompanied refugee minors who had been exposed to varying levels of both violence types. Using structured interviews, experiences of organized and familial violence, self-committed aggressive acts, the trait of appetitive aggression, and PTSD symptoms were assessed in 49 volunteers.

RESULTS:

A sequential regression analysis revealed that the trait of appetitive aggression and experienced family violence were independent and significant predictors of self-committed aggressive acts, altogether accounting for 70% of the variance. Exposure to organized violence, however, was not significantly associated with aggressive acts or appetitive aggression. PTSD symptom severity was not correlated with measures of aggression but with the exposure to familial and organized violence.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results suggest that in addition to the impact of family violence, an elevated trait of appetitive aggression plays a crucial role in aggressive behavior and should be considered in psychotherapeutic treatment.

Below:  Correlations between violent events, PTSD, and measures of aggression

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/lSjpTA

By:  Mueller-Bamouh V1,2, Ruf-Leuschner M1,3, Dohrmann K1,3, Schauer M1,3, Elbert T1,3.

• 1Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
• 2vivo international e.V. (www.vivo.org), Germany; veronika.mueller@uni-konstanz.de.
• 3vivo international e.V. (www.vivo.org), Germany 
• Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2016 Feb 12;7:27856. doi: 10.3402/ejpt.v7.27856. eCollection 2016.

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Reinforcement Behavior Therapy by Kindergarten Teachers on Preschool Children’s Aggression (Iran)

Background:

Aggression is a kind of behavior that causes damage or harm to others. The prevalence of aggression is 8–20% in 3–6 years old children. The present study aimed to assess the effect of training kindergarten teachers regarding reinforcement behavior therapy on preschoolers’ aggression.

Methods:

In this cluster randomized control trial, 14 out of 35 kindergarten and preschool centers of Mohr city, Iran, were chosen using random cluster sampling and then randomly assigned to an intervention and a control group. All 370 kindergarten and preschool children in 14 kindergarten were assessed by preschoolers’ aggression questionnaire and 60 children who obtained a minimum aggression score of 117.48 for girls and 125.77 for boys were randomly selected. The teachers in the intervention group participated in 4 educational sessions on behavior therapy and then practiced this technique under the supervision of the researcher for two months. Preschoolers’ aggression questionnaire was computed in both intervention and control groups before and after a two-month period.

Results:

The results demonstrated a significant statistical difference in the total aggression score (P=0.01), verbal (P=0.02) and physical (P=0.01) aggression subscales scores in the intervention group in comparison to the control group after the intervention. But the scores of relational aggression (P=0.09) and impulsive anger (P=0.08) subscales were not statistically different in the intervention group compared to the controls.

Conclusion:

This study highlighted the importance of teaching reinforcement behavior therapy by kindergarten teachers in decreasing verbal and physical aggression in preschoolers.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/ByrXqA

By:  Shahrzad Yektatalab, PhD,1 Abdolrasool Alipour, MS,2 Mitra Edraki, MS,3 and Pouran Tavakoli, MS2

¹Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

²Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

³Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Pediatric, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran

Corresponding author: Shahrzad Yektatalab, PhD; Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Namazee Square, Shiraz, Iran Tel: +98 71 336474254; Fax: +98 71 36474250; Email:ri.ca.smus@hsatkey

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Differences by Gender in Completed Suicides in a Mexican Population: A Psychological Autopsy Study

Highlights

• We examined differences by gender and suicide characteristics in a Mexican population.
• Between the years 2007–2014, 182 psychological autopsies were documented.
• Our results suggest that there are differences by gender between subjects with completed suicide.

Objective

Using the method of psychological autopsy, we identified differences by gender in socio-demographic aspects, signs and symptoms, and suicide characteristics in a population of the state of Tabasco. Mexico.

Methods

Between the years 2007–2014, 182 psychological autopsies were documented by the Secretary of Health of the State of Tabasco, Mexico. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic aspects and suicide characteristics.

Results

The sample was mainly formed by males (78%). 84% of the sample used hanging as suicide method. However, in comparison with the male group, females were older on the average (p = 0.002); they were mostly housewives (37.5%) and had more years of schooling (p = 0.004). Other significant differences predominantly present in the male group were: the use of alcohol at the time of suicide (52.1%), job retirement, and increases in apathy (50.7%) and aggressiveness (36.6%) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that there are differences by gender between subjects with completed suicide. Factors such as alcohol consumption, job retirement, aggressiveness and isolation/social apathy certainly render men more vulnerable to suicide in the Mexican population.

  

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By:  González-Castro TB1, Hernández-Díaz Y2, Tovilla-Zárate CA3, González-Gutiérrez KP4, Fresán A5, Juárez-Rojop IE6, López-Narváez L7, Villar Soto M8, Genis A9.

• 1Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Jalpa de Méndez, Cunduacán, Tabasco, Mexico. Electronic address: thelma.glez.castro@gmail.com.
• 2Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Jalpa de Méndez, Cunduacán, Tabasco, Mexico. Electronic address: yazmin.hdez.diaz@gmail.com.
• 3Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico. Electronic address: alfonso_tovillaz@yahoo.com.mx.
• 4Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico. Electronic address: payo2306@hotmail.com.
• 5Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, México, D. F., Mexico. Electronic address: fresan@imp.edu.mx.
• 6Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Electronic address: iselajuarezrojop@hotmail.com.
• 7Hospital General de Yajalón, Secretaría de Salud, Yajalón, Chiapas, Mexico. Electronic address: dralilialonar@yahoo.com.mx.
• 8Hospital de Alta Especialidad "Gustavo A. Rovirosa P, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Electronic address: mariovillarsoto@hotmail.com.
• 9Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (INMEGEN), Servicios de Atención Psiquiátrica (SAP), Secretaría de Salud, México, D. F, Mexico. Electronic address: adgenis@inmegen.gob.mx. 

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