A hormonal approach to anti-social behaviour

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Altered cortisol and testosterone levels are linked to anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) and psychopathy.
• Conflicting evidence exists regarding the characteristic nature of these hormonal findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate diurnal cortisol and testosterone fluctuations in male forensic psychiatric inpatients with ASPD and psychopathy.
• To differentiate these patient groups from each other and from healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Saliva samples for diurnal cortisol and testosterone were collected from 166 men.
• Participants included patients with ASPD (high/low Psychopathy Checklist-Revised scores), forensic hospital employees, and general population men.

Main Results:

• Both ASPD and psychopathy groups, along with hospital employees, exhibited higher diurnal testosterone than community men.
• Community men had lower diurnal cortisol variation compared to patient groups, but similar to hospital employees.
• Cortisol and testosterone levels did not differentiate between higher and lower psychopathy scorers.

Conclusions:

• Diurnal testosterone deficiencies were replicated in men with psychopathy and ASPD.
• Cortisol measures could not distinguish between patient groups or from hospital employees.
• Further research with diverse groups and personality trait differentiation is needed to understand distinctive hormonal patterns.