Psychopathy, aggression, and family history in male veteran substance abuse patients: a factor analytic study

Forty-one male patients consecutively admitted to an inpatient VA substance abuse program completed the Psychopathic States Inventory, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, and the WAIS. Multiple significant intercorrelations between scale scores were noted, prompting a factor analysis to identify constructs to explain these correlations. Four orthogonal factors were isolated: Factor I--impulsivity/narcissism/sociopathy; Factor II--assaultive aggression; Factor III--irritative aggression; Factor IV--IQ. Patient factor scores were distributed independent from family history of alcohol or other substance abuse among first-degree relatives. Family history status did not discriminate onset of substance abuse, "pure" alcohol abuse versus mixed substance abuse, educational attainment, or socioeconomic status. These factors may have further utility in investigating the relationship between psychopathy, aggression, and substance abuse.