Testing for Sex Differences in the Nomological Network of the Triarchic Model of Psychopathy in Incarcerated Individuals

AbstractThe triarchic model of psychopathy conceptualizes variants of this clinical condition as expressions of three distinct biobehavioral dispositions, termed boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. As a trait-oriented model, the triarchic model situates psychopathy within a broader nomological network of personality and psychopathology, and has proven useful for characterizing how psychopathy relates to variables in these domains as well as to biological and behavioral variables. The current study was the first to examine sex differences in the external correlates of psychopathic traits as described by the triarchic model in a prison sample. Results were generally consistent with hypotheses: The triarchic traits related to measures of personality and psychopathology in patterns that were largely consistent across sex, but with some notable differences between males and females, in the correlates of disinhibition in particular. These included stronger associations for disinhibition with substance use problems, self-harm, and staff ratings of prison misbehavior among females compared to males. Findings from this study support the value of the triarchic model for understanding similarities and differences in the nomological network of psychopathy in incarcerated males and females.

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Sex Differences in Substance Use Disorders: A Neurobiological Perspective

Frontiers in Global Women's Health ◽

10.3389/fgwh.2021.778514 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Cornish ◽

Asheeta A. Prasad

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Reward Processing ◽

Future Research ◽

Neural Structure ◽

Patterns Of Use ◽

Males And Females ◽

Potential Impact ◽

Advance Knowledge

Clinical studies provide fundamental knowledge of substance use behaviors (substance of abuse, patterns of use, relapse rates). The combination of neuroimaging approaches reveal correlation between substance use disorder (SUD) and changes in neural structure, function, and neurotransmission. Here, we review these advances, placing special emphasis on sex specific findings from structural neuroimaging studies of those dependent on alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, psychostimulants, or opioids. Recent clinical studies in SUD analyzing sex differences reveal neurobiological changes that are differentially impacted in common reward processing regions such as the striatum, hippocampus, amygdala, insula, and corpus collosum. We reflect on the contribution of sex hormones, period of drug use and abstinence, and the potential impact of these factors on the interpretation of the reported findings. With the overall recognition that SUD impacts the brains of females and males differentially, it is of fundamental importance that future research is designed with sex as a variable of study in this field. Improved understanding of neurobiological changes in males and females in SUD will advance knowledge underlying sex-specific susceptibility and the neurobiological impact in these disorders. Together these findings will inform future treatments that are tailor designed for improved efficacy in females and males with SUD.

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Comparison of suicide risk and other outcomes among boys and girls who self-harm

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1007/s00787-020-01490-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (12) ◽

pp. 1741-1746 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Ohlis ◽

Johan Bjureberg ◽

Paul Lichtenstein ◽

Brian M. D’Onofrio ◽

Alan E. Fruzzetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Psychiatric Hospitalization ◽

Economic Status ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Self Harm ◽

Males And Females ◽

Drug Use Disorder

Abstract Little is known about sex differences in outcomes of self-harm, and there are inconclusive results concerning the association between sex, self-harm, and suicide attempts. The aim of this study was to explore sex differences in outcomes of self-harm in adolescence. In this cohort study, all individuals (0–17 years) enrolled at the child- and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Stockholm between 2001 and 2015 (N = 110,072) were followed in national registers from their last contact with the CAMHS, until end of 2015. Exposure was self-harm as reason for contact, outcome measures were: alcohol-/substance use disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, non-violent or violent crime, and suicide. Differences in outcomes rates between exposed versus unexposed males, and exposed versus unexposed females, were examined using Cox regressions, expressed as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Median follow-up time was 5.8 years (Q1: 2.3 years; Q3: 9.7 years). Self-harm was documented in 2.2% (N = 1241) males and 8.7% (4716) females. Exposed individuals had higher HR for all outcomes as compared with unexposed individuals of their own sex. Exposed females had more pronounced risk for drug use disorder (HR 11.2; 95% CI 9.9–12.7) compared with exposed males (HR 6.5, 95% 5.2–8.0). Both males and females who had engaged in self-harm had elevated risks for future suicide. Adjusting for socio-economic status and age at start of follow-up only marginally affected the associations. Females and males with self-harm had similarly elevated risk for suicide, and self-harm was also an important risk marker for other adverse outcomes within both sexes.

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Sex Differences in Childhood Bullying Victimization and Trajectories of Substance Use From Adolescence to Adulthood

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/0022042616678605 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 25-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Eric J. Connolly

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Bullying Victimization ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Latent Growth ◽

Developmental Patterns ◽

Growth Curve Models ◽

Developmental Growth ◽

Males And Females

Recent research has found that repeated bullying victimization increases the risk of developing several unhealthy habits later in life including periodic substance use. Comparatively less research, however, has examined whether the association between bullying victimization and developmental growth in substance use is different for males and females. The present study addressed this gap in the literature by analyzing data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Results from a series of sex-specific latent growth curve models reveal that bullied males experience faster increases in cigarette and marijuana use from adolescence to young adulthood compared to non-bullied males, while bullied females experience faster increases in cigarette use compared to non-bullied females. Bullied males also experience slower declines in cigarette and marijuana use from adolescence to middle adulthood, while bullied females experience slower declines in alcohol and cigarette use. Implications of these findings for research on sex differences in bullying victimization and developmental patterns of substance use are discussed.

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Similarities and Differences between Individuals Seeking Treatment for Gambling Problems vs. Alcohol and Substance Use Problems in Relation to the Progressive Model of Self-stigma

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00957 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Belle Gavriel-Fried ◽

Tal Rabayov

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Gambling Problems ◽

Substance Use Problems ◽

Similarities And Differences

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Spatial Problem-Solving Strategies as Functions of Sex

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1978.47.2.348 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 348-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Mary J. Allen ◽

Randie Hogeland

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Spatial Ability ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Spatial Problem ◽

Problem Solving Strategies ◽

Males And Females ◽

Similarities And Differences ◽

Rod And Frame Test ◽

Rod And Frame

Sex differences in spatial ability may be related to different problem-solving methods. Two spatial tests, Choosing A Path and Witkin's Rod and Frame Test, and related strategy questionnaires were given to 50 male and 50 female adults. Multivariate analyses of variance on the strategy questionnaires were significant. Women were more likely to use concrete and unorganized methods and to give up or skip problems. Spearman correlations between the males' and females' rank orders of strategies were high and significant, so that both similarities and differences between the sexes were demonstrated.

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