Psychopathic traits in adolescents are associated with higher structural connectivity

• Published in: Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging Vol. 233; no. 3; pp. 474 - 480
• Main Authors: Pape, Louise E, Cohn, Moran D, Caan, Matthan W.A, van Wingen, Guido, van den Brink, Wim, Veltman, Dick J, Popma, Arne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30-09-2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Anisotropy; Antisocial behavior; Antisocial Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Antisocial Personality Disorder - metabolism; Antisocial Personality Disorder - psychology; Callous-unemotional traits; Child; Child and adolescent psychiatry; Corpus Callosum - metabolism; Diffusion Tensor Imaging - methods; DTI; Female; Humans; Male; Nerve Net - metabolism; Personality Inventory; Psychiatry; Psychopathic traits; Psychopathy; Radiology; Young Adult; DTI; Antisocial behavior; Child and adolescent psychiatry; Psychopathy; Psychopathic traits; Callous-unemotional traits
• ISSN: 0925-4927; 1872-7506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.07.023

Abstract Altered structural connectivity has been reported in antisocial juveniles, but findings have been inconsistent. Given the phenotypical heterogeneity among individuals showing antisocial behavior, specification of the association between structural connectivity and the dimensions of psychopathic traits (i.e., callous-unemotional, grandiose-manipulative, and impulsive–irresponsible traits) may aid in more reliably elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying antisocial behavior during adolescence. In this study, a sample of 145 adolescents (mean age 17.6, SD 1.6) from a childhood arrestee cohort participated in a neuroimaging protocol including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD), as obtained by tract-based spatial statistics, were associated with juveniles' scores on the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory. Grandiose-manipulative traits were positively associated with FA and negatively with RD in a wide range of white matter tracts, suggesting abnormal myelination related to these traits. Callous-unemotional traits were positively associated with FA and AD in specific white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum and corticospinal tract. The differential associations between dimensions of psychopathic traits and measures of structural connectivity support the notion that multiple distinct neural mechanisms underlie antisocial and psychopathic development.