Neuropsychological impairment of persistent delinquency

In order to examine the possibility of neuropsychological impairment in juvenile delinquency, 99 adolescents (male = 64, female = 35) consecutively admitted to a residential treatment center for delinquents were assessed using the Halstead-Reitan Battery and 12 additional neuropsychological tests. For comparison purposes, a nondelinquent control group comprised of 47 adolescent volunteers (male = 29, female = 18) from regular classrooms were also assessed. No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, sex, or handedness. Clinical interpretation of the neuropsychological test profiles revealed a greater percentage of abnormal profiles within the delinquent than nondelinquent group (84 vs. 11 per cent) and a specific pattern of deficits implicating anterior dysfunction that was greater in the nondominant (right) than dominant hemisphere. Discriminant function analysis based on 12 neuropsychological test factors or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale subtests correctly classified approximately 85 per cent of the delinquents and nondelinquents. The particular pattern of deficits implicating anterior cerebral dysfunction that was predominately localized to the right hemisphere is discussed with regard to a significantly lower than average number of violent adolescents in this sample and the high percentage of delinquents exhibiting characteristics of depression.