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The relationship between large cavum septum pellucidum and antisocial behavior, callous‐unemotional traits and psychopathy in adolescents
Author(s) -
White Stuart F.,
Brislin Sarah,
Sinclair Stephen,
Fowler Katherine A.,
Pope Kayla,
Blair R. James R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02603.x
Subject(s) - psychopathy , psychology , antisocial personality disorder , septum pellucidum , conduct disorder , dark triad , developmental psychology , poison control , injury prevention , personality , social psychology , medicine , neuroscience , medical emergency
Background: The presence of a large cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) has been previously associated with antisocial behavior/psychopathic traits in an adult community sample. Aims: The current study investigated the relationship between a large CSP and symptom severity in disruptive behavior disorders (DBD; conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder). Method: Structural MRI scans of youth with DBDs ( N = 32) and healthy comparison youth ( N = 27) were examined for the presence of a large CSP and if this was related to symptom severity. Results: Replicating previous results, a large CSP was associated with DBD diagnosis, proactive aggression, and level of psychopathic traits in youth. However, the presence of a large CSP was unrelated to aggression or psychopathic traits within the DBD sample. Conclusions: Early brain mal‐development may increase the risk of a DBD diagnosis, but does not mark a particularly severe form of DBD within patients receiving these diagnoses.