The Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD) Scale: Factor Structure and Validation of the Self-Report Version in a Forensic Sample of Belgian Youth.

This is the first study to test the psychometric properties of the self-report version of the Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD) in detained youth. The PSCD is a measure of the broad psychopathy construct, with grandiose-manipulative, callous-unemotional, daring-impulsive, and conduct disorder (CD) components. Participants (227 males) completed the PSCD along with other measures, including a diagnostic interview to assess Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) CD. Results support the PSCD's proposed hierarchical four-factor structure. Correlations with an alternate measure of psychopathy and symptoms of CD support the convergent validity of PSCD scores. PSCD scores showed positive associations with criterion variables of emotional and regulatory functioning, aggression, substance use, and school problems. Finally, PSCD scores were unrelated to anxiety and depression, supporting the PSCD's discriminant validity. Findings indicate that the PSCD is a promising measure for assessing psychopathic traits in detained male adolescents, though its incremental validity is in need of further scrutiny.

Differences in Offending Behaviors, Aggression, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems between Male Drug Dealers and Non-Drug Dealers in Belgian Youth Detention Centers.

This study investigated whether drug dealing juvenile offenders in Belgium differ from non-drug dealers in levels of violent and non-violent offending behaviors, aggression, substance use, and mental health needs. The current study examined data from 226 16- to 17-year-old male juvenile offenders. Information relating to drug dealing, substance use, and mental health needs were collected through self-report questionnaires. A structured diagnostic interview was used to collect information about past violent and non-violent behaviors. Chi-square tests and multivariate analysis of variance compared non-dealers and dealers and explored if hard-drug dealers and soft-drug dealers differed from each other. Relative to non-drug dealers, drug dealers engaged in more violent offending behaviors, exhibited higher levels of aggression, substance use and oppositional defiant problems, and displayed lower levels of anxiety. Soft- and hard-drug dealers did not differ from each other. To conclude, detained drug dealers are characterized by severe antisocial behavior.

Psychopathic Traits, Treatment Engagement, and Their Interrelation in Criminal Justice-Involved Boys: A Cross-Sectional Network Analysis.

To maximize the benefits of prevention and treatment efforts the psychopathy construct has been extended downward in age. Despite advances in the study of psychopathy in adolescence it remains unknown if adolescents with psychopathic traits engage in treatment. To fill this knowledge gap, the relationship between psychopathy and treatment engagement was scrutinized in 261 criminal justice-involved male adolescents (ages 16-17 years). Psychopathic traits were measured by means of a well-established self-report questionnaire (Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory; YPI), whereas treatment engagement was measured using a self-report questionnaire consisting of readiness to change, bond with staff, collaboration on goals/tasks, and therapeutic engagement dimensions. Network analysis was used to detect the most robust relations between ten YPI subscales or the three YPI components and the four treatment engagement dimensions. Findings indicated that the YPI subscales (e.g., remorselessness) rather than the YPI components (e.g., callous-unemotional) might help to understand the complex relationship between psychopathic traits and treatment engagement. Disaggregating all the dimensions across its subscales can help us to identify which specific feature of psychopathy is related to treatment engagement and should be the first focus of intervention.