Exploring the link between character, personality disorder, and neuropsychological function.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Personality disorders and cognitive executive function deficits are prevalent in forensic populations.
• Understanding the relationship between personality traits and cognitive functioning is crucial for this group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the links between personality deviations and cognitive executive function in incarcerated offenders.
• To explore specific associations between personality dimensions and neuropsychological performance.

Main Methods:

• Assessed personality using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).
• Evaluated cognitive executive function (visual working memory, attentional set-shifting, planning) with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
• Compared offenders with personality disorders to controls (offenders without personality disorder, non-criminal controls).

Main Results:

• Offenders with personality disorders showed higher harm avoidance and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness.
• No significant differences were found in visual working memory or planning tasks.
• Personality disordered offenders made more errors on the attentional set-shifting task.
• Dimensional analysis revealed associations between self-directedness/cooperativeness and attentional set-shifting.

Conclusions:

• Deficits in attentional set-shifting are associated with personality disorders in incarcerated offenders.
• Poor development of personality traits like self-directedness and cooperativeness may correlate with neuropsychological deficits.
• Findings suggest a link between personality development and executive function in forensic populations.