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Special Issue "Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors"

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2023 | Viewed by 6043

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Retz

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Guest Editor

1. Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
2. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Interests: neurobiology and treatment of disruptive behavioral disorders; affect regulation and emotion control in violent offenders; assessment and treatment of ADHD in adults; development and validation of standardized measured in psychiatry

Dr. Marcel Aebi

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Guest Editor

Research & Development, Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Justice and Home Affairs, Hohlstrasse 552, 8090 Zurich, Switzerland
Interests: criminal behavior; forensic psychology; risk assessment; juvenile offending; sexual offending; adverse childhood experiences; treatment evaluation; psychiatric disorders

Dr. Steffen Barra

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Guest Editor

Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrberger Str. 100, 66421 Homburg, Germany
Interests: criminal behavior; forensic psychology; risk assessment; juvenile offending; criminal recidivism; adverse childhood experiences; mental health problems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The occurrence and persistence of criminal behaviors have been related to a wide variety of influencing factors on the intra- and inter-personal level. In particular, the role of psychosocial burden in the etiology of criminal offending has been highlighted. However, existing research on the associations of psychosocial burden with criminal behaviors remains inconclusive due to the heterogeneity in the constructs and samples examined in this context. As such, psychosocial burden may result from mental health status, adverse childhood experiences, personality problems, societal/environmental factors, family dynamics, peer influences, and many more. Criminal behavior may be examined in terms of first-time or repeated/chronic offending in juvenile or adult, general, and specific samples (e.g., individuals in incarceration or residential care, sexual, violent, or other offenders, psychiatric patients) based on different kinds of data assessment (e.g., self-reports vs. clinician-administered information). This Special Issue aims at providing a versatile collection of studies using various constructs, data sources, and analytical approaches to broaden the current knowledge on theoretical (e.g., etiological models, predictive associations) and practical implications (e.g., treatment, prevention, and policy) in the context of psychosocial burden and criminal behaviors. This collection of studies may inspire research, treatment, and policy approaches that support individuals at risk of criminal behaviors to develop toward a healthy, non-delinquent future, and thus protect society from further crime.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Retz
Dr. Marcel Aebi
Dr. Steffen Barra
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

psychosocial burden
criminal behavior
offending
delinquency
recidivism
mental health
personality
adverse childhood experiences
stress
societal influences
treatment
prevention

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

The Suitability of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in Criminal Offender Samples

and

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 5195; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065195 - 15 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1107

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common in community samples and are associated with various dysfunctional physical, psychological, and behavioral consequences. In this regard, criminal offenders are at specific risk, considering their elevated ACE rates compared with community samples and the associations of ACEs with criminal behaviors. However, assessing ACEs in offender samples by self-reports has been criticized with regard to their validity and reliability. We examined the suitability of ACE-self-reports using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) in a sample of 231 male offenders involved in the German criminal justice system by comparing self-reported to externally rated ACEs to externally rated ACEs based on the information from the offenders’ criminal and health-related files and on interviews conducted by forensically trained psychological/psychiatric experts. The accordance between self-ratings and expert ratings was examined considering mean differences, correlations, inter-rater agreement measures, and regression analyses. Offenders themselves reported a higher ACE burden than the one that was rated externally, but there was a strong relationship between CTQ self-assessments and external assessments. However, associations were stronger in offenders seen for risk assessment than in those evaluated for criminal responsibility. Overall, the CTQ seems suitable for use in forensic samples. However, reporting bias in self-reports of ACEs should be expected. Therefore, the combination of self-assessments and external assessments seems appropriate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors)

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Open AccessArticle

Correlates of Social Isolation in Forensic Psychiatric Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: An Explorative Analysis Using Machine Learning

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4392; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054392 - 01 Mar 2023

Viewed by 734

Abstract

The detrimental effects of social isolation on physical and mental health are well known. Social isolation is also known to be associated with criminal behavior, thus burdening not only the affected individual but society in general. Forensic psychiatric patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are at a particularly high risk for lacking social integration and support due to their involvement with the criminal justice system and their severe mental illness. The present study aims to exploratively evaluate factors associated with social isolation in a unique sample of forensic psychiatric patients with SSD using supervised machine learning (ML) in a sample of 370 inpatients. Out of >500 possible predictor variables, 5 emerged as most influential in the ML model: attention disorder, alogia, crime motivated by ego disturbances, total PANSS score, and a history of negative symptoms. With a balanced accuracy of 69% and an AUC of 0.74, the model showed a substantial performance in differentiating between patients with and without social isolation. The findings show that social isolation in forensic psychiatric patients with SSD is mainly influenced by factors related to illness and psychopathology instead of factors related to the committed offences, e.g., the severity of the crime. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors)

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Open AccessArticle

The Predictive Accuracy of the LSI-R in Female Forensic Inpatients—Assessing the Utility of Gender-Responsive Risk Factors

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054380 - 01 Mar 2023

Viewed by 779

Abstract

Female reoffending has long been a neglected research interest. Accordingly, risk assessment instruments were developed based on the criminological knowledge of male recidivism. While feminist researchers have repeatedly criticized the failure to incorporate gender-responsive risk (GR) factors, opinions on the gender neutrality of existing instruments remain inconsistent. In order to substitute the existing literature, while extending the scope to mentally disordered offenders, the aim of the given study was the prediction of general recidivism in a sample of 525 female forensic inpatients who had been discharged from forensic psychiatric care in Germany between 2001 and 2018. Primarily, ROC analysis was conducted to assess the predictive accuracy of the LSI-R. Subsequently, separate binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the predictive utility of GR factors on recidivism. Lastly, multiple binary logistic regression was used to assess the incremental validity of the GR factors. The results showed that the GR factors (i.e., intimate relationship dysfunction, mental health issues, parental stress, adult physical abuse, and poverty) significantly contributed to the prediction of recidivism, while a mixed personality disorder, a dissocial personality, an unsupportive partner, and poverty added incremental validity to the predictive accuracy of the LSI-R. However, given that the added variables could only improve classification accuracy by 2.2%, the inclusion of gender-specific factors should be cautiously evaluated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors)

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Offending Behaviors, Aggression, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems between Male Drug Dealers and Non-Drug Dealers in Belgian Youth Detention Centers

Athina Bisback

Wouter Vanderplasschen

and

Olivier F. Colins

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16390; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416390 - 07 Dec 2022

Viewed by 586

Abstract

This study investigated whether drug dealing juvenile offenders in Belgium differ from non-drug dealers in levels of violent and non-violent offending behaviors, aggression, substance use, and mental health needs. The current study examined data from 226 16- to 17-year-old male juvenile offenders. Information relating to drug dealing, substance use, and mental health needs were collected through self-report questionnaires. A structured diagnostic interview was used to collect information about past violent and non-violent behaviors. Chi-square tests and multivariate analysis of variance compared non-dealers and dealers and explored if hard-drug dealers and soft-drug dealers differed from each other. Relative to non-drug dealers, drug dealers engaged in more violent offending behaviors, exhibited higher levels of aggression, substance use and oppositional defiant problems, and displayed lower levels of anxiety. Soft- and hard-drug dealers did not differ from each other. To conclude, detained drug dealers are characterized by severe antisocial behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors)

Open AccessArticle

The Maltreatment–Aggression Link among Prosecuted Males: What about Psychopathy?

and

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9584; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159584 - 04 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1081

Abstract

Criminal offenders constitute a high-risk sample regarding experiences of childhood maltreatment and engagement in severe aggression. Moreover, psychopathic traits are more common in samples of offenders than non-offenders. Although research has underlined the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adult aggression, the influence of psychopathy on this link is still unclear. We examined the dynamics of maltreatment, aggression, and psychopathy in a mixed sample of 239 male violent, sexual, and other offenders using latent factor structural equation modeling. We found a consistent positive association of maltreatment with aggression. Psychopathy did not mediate this relation. Maltreatment was not associated with psychopathy, although psychopathy had a positive effect on aggressive behavior. These dynamics appeared similar for violent, sexual, and other offenders. However, latent variables were constructed somewhat differently depending on the offender status. For instance, sexual abuse appeared to be of specific importance in sexual offenders. Violent offenders showed high rates of psychopathy compared to sexual and other offenders. The current findings may inspire future research to focus more closely on the different subtypes of psychopathy when examining its role in the prediction of aggression based on childhood maltreatment. Moreover, childhood maltreatment must not be neglected in treatment and prevention approaches aimed at reducing the risk of aggressive behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors)

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Open AccessArticle

Profiles in Criminal Psychopathology: A Multiple Case Report Study of the p Factor

Alan J. Drury

Michael J. Elbert

and

Matt DeLisi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 6960; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19126960 - 07 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1154

Abstract

(1) Background: The one general psychopathology (p Factor) theory asserts that a superordinate dimensional construct encompasses underlying forms of psychopathology, but the theory has limited empirical linkages to criminology. (2) Methods: We utilized case reports from 12 male offenders selected from a federal jurisdiction in the central United States who were in the 99th percentile on a composite indicator of psychopathology to advance a qualitative study of the p Factor. (3) Results: Clients experienced frequent and often pathological traumatic experiences and exhibited exceedingly early onset of conduct problems usually during the preschool period. Their criminal careers were overwhelmingly versatile and contained numerous offense types, had extensive justice system contacts, and exhibited remarkable deficits in global functioning. Most clients spent the majority of their life in local, state, or federal confinement. Consistent with the theory, clients experienced a generalized psychopathology disposition that had undercurrents of externalizing, internalizing, psychotic, paraphilic, and homicidal features. (4) Conclusions: A qualitative understanding of the p Factor and its contribution to offending behaviors among correctional clients complements the statistical approach to developmental psychopathology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors)

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Desistance of (re-)offending behavior in high-risk youth
Authors: Stéphanie Habersaat, Sébastien Urben, Julie Palix, David Bürgin, Jörg M. Fegert, Klaus Schmeck, Marc Schmid, Cyril Boonmann

Title： Mental Disorders in Sexual Offenders and Their Significance for Risk Assessment
Authors: Daniel Turner

Title： Psychosocial adversities in a cohort of seriously offending adolescents and young adults from a residential treatment facility: Associations with treatment outcomes and criminal recidivism.
Authors: Marcel Aebi

Title： Psychosocial burden of female offenders in forensic psychiatry
Authors: Viviane Wolf

Title： Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Extremist Attitudes
Authors: Ireen Dittmann, Thea Rau, & Marc Allroggen

Title： Multisystemic outpatient treatment of juvenile offenders: Challenges and Benefits
Authors: Felix Euler

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Special Issue "Psychosocial Burden in Individuals at Risk of Criminal Behaviors"

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