Changes in Resting EEG in Colombian Ex-combatants ith Antisocial Personality Disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Forensic Psychology

Background:

• Colombian internal conflicts impacted civilians and ex-combatants.
• Ex-combatants often exhibit characteristics of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
• Previous studies questioned personality structures and antisocial features in ex-combatants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cortical activity patterns in ex-combatants using quantitative EEG (qEEG).
• To assess differences in brain wave activity between ex-combatants and a control group.
• To correlate qEEG findings with psychopathy and other mental disorders.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative EEG (qEEG) was employed to measure cortical activity.
• The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) assessed ASPD.
• Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS) evaluated other mental disorders.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in psychopathy levels were observed between groups.
• Distinct patterns in alpha-2 and beta brain waves were identified in ex-combatants.
• These differences were localized in specific brain regions, including left temporal and frontal areas.

Conclusions:

• qEEG can differentiate spectral resting potential between ex-combatants and controls.
• Findings correlate qEEG patterns with features of antisocial personality disorder.
• qEEG measurements provide objective correlates for questionnaire and clinical interview data.