The contribution of brain volume to explain autonomous imbalance during recovery from acute stress in batterers.

AIM: Many authors have suggested that intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators present an imbalance between both branches of the autonomous nervous system when coping with acute stress. Concretely, there is a predominance of the sympathetic branches over the parasympathetic ones when recovering from stress. This imbalance can be explained by their tendency toward anger rumination, and more concretely, by their focus on thoughts of revenge during this period. Unfortunately, there is a gap in the scientific literature in terms of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to assess which brain structures would explain this tendency of IPV perpetrators when coping with acute stress. METHOD: The main objective of this study was to assess whether the gray matter volume (GMV) of relevant brain structures, signaled in previous scientific literature, moderates the association between thoughts of revenge and sympathetic activation during the recovery period, based on skin conductance levels (SCL) after being exposed to stress, in a group of IPV perpetrators (n = 58) and non-violent men (n = 61). RESULTS: This study highlighted that the GMV of the left nucleus accumbens, right lobules of the cerebellum, and inferior temporal gyrus in IPV perpetrators moderated the association between thoughts of revenge and SCL during the recovery period. Accordingly, the higher the thoughts of revenge, the higher the sympathetic predominance (or higher SCL levels), especially among IPV perpetrators with the lowest GMV of these brain structures. Nonetheless, those variables were unrelated in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the involvement of certain brain structures and how they explain the tendency of some IPV perpetrators to ruminate anger or, more precisely, to focus on thoughts of revenge when they recover from acute stress. These results reinforce the need to incorporate neuroimaging techniques during screening processes to properly understand how IPV perpetrators deal with stress, which in turn helps target their needs and design concrete intervention modules.

The role of intimate partner violence perpetrators' resting state functional connectivity in treatment compliance and recidivism.

To expand the scientific literature on how resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or the measurement of the strength of the coactivation of two brain regions over a sustained period of time) can be used to explain treatment compliance and recidivism among intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. Therefore, our first aim was to assess whether men convicted of IPV (n = 53) presented different rsFC patterns from a control group of non-violent (n = 47) men. We also analyzed if the rsFC of IPV perpetrators before staring the intervention program could explain treatment compliance and recidivism one year after the intervention ended. The rsFC was measured by applying a whole brain analysis during a resting period, which lasted 45 min. IPV perpetrators showed higher rsFC in the occipital brain areas compared to controls. Furthermore, there was a positive association between the occipital pole (OP) and temporal lobes (ITG) and a negative association between the occipital (e.g., occipital fusiform gyrus, visual network) and both the parietal lobe regions (e.g., supramarginal gyrus, parietal operculum cortex, lingual gyrus) and the putamen in IPV perpetrators. This pattern was the opposite in the control group. The positive association between many of these occipital regions and the parietal, frontal, and temporal regions explained treatment compliance. Conversely, treatment compliance was also explained by a reduced rsFC between the rostral prefrontal cortex and the frontal gyrus and both the occipital and temporal gyrus, and between the temporal and the occipital and cerebellum areas and the sensorimotor superior networks. Last, the enhanced rsFC between the occipital regions and both the cerebellum and temporal gyrus predicted recidivism. Our results highlight that there are specific rsFC patterns that can distinguish IPV perpetrators from controls. These rsFC patterns could be useful to explain treatment compliance and recidivism among IPV perpetrators.

A Meta-analysis of Cognitive Functioning in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators.

Numerous psychologists have shown interest in applying neuropsychological tests to study intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators and gain a further understanding of the underlying nature of this type of violence. However, up until now, no meta-analysis has drawn on all the available scientific literature to calculate whether consistent differences exist between the neuropsychological performance of IPV perpetrators and other samples of men (non-violent men, IPV perpetrators with drug misuse, and other men with criminal history). The aim of this study was to carry out this calculation and also measure whether neuropsychological performance explained IPV perpetration. We conducted a meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. After initially identifying 7243 sources, we eventually included a total of 25 publications. The number of studies included for effect size calculation in each cognitive domain ranged from two to nine. Taking solely into account studies comparing IPV perpetrators with non-violent men, our findings indicate that both IPV perpetrators who misuse drugs and those who do not exhibit worse neuropsychological functioning compared to non-violent men. These differences range from moderate to large for working memory, switching attention, cognitive flexibility, planning abilities, and phonemic fluency. However, while low functioning in response IQ was only observed in IPV perpetrators without drug misuse, continuous attention performance only differed in IPV perpetrators with drug misuse. It should be noted that most conclusions were consistent. In addition, the comparison between IPV perpetrator subsamples and other types of criminal convictions only revealed differences in switching attention, with IPV perpetrators presenting worse abilities than the rest of the subsamples. Finally, we also found some support for significant associations between neuropsychological performance and both physical and psychological IPV perpetration. This meta-analysis is a significant contribution that will help inform future clinical strategies for the early detection of cognitive needs. It will also guide the implementation of new or complementary intervention programs.

Neuropsychological Performance, Substance Misuse, and Recidivism in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators.

Previous research has pointed out the importance of neuropsychological impairments in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators for reoffending/recidivism once treatment ends. However, less is known about whether substance misuse is associated with impairments or deficits, which facilitate recidivism. In this study, we first aimed to assess whether IPV perpetrators with (n = 104) and without (n = 120) substance misuse showed differences in specific neuropsychological variables in comparison with non-violent men (n = 82). Second, we examined whether there were differences in IPV perpetrators' recidivism and whether these differences were explained by neuropsychological performance. Our results revealed that IPV perpetrators with substance misuse showed worse cognitive performance than controls. Furthermore, we also found differences between IPV perpetrators without substance misuse and controls, but only in terms of executive functioning. There were no differences in neuropsychological performance between the two groups of IPV perpetrators, although those with substance misuse presented higher recidivism rates than those without substance misuse. Finally, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, and worse attention functioning were related to high recidivism in both groups of IPV perpetrators. This study underlies the importance of performing neuropsychological assessments during the initial stages of intervention programs for IPV perpetrators in order to design coadjutant neuropsychological/cognitive training to address not only the psychological needs (including substance misuse) of IPV perpetrators, but also their neuropsychological needs.

La investigación previa ha puesto de manifiesto la importancia de los déficits neuropsicológicos para la reincidencia en los hombres penados por violencia contra la mujer en las relaciones de pareja (o maltratadores) una vez que han finalizado el tratamiento. Sin embargo, disponemos de un menor conocimiento sobre si el abuso de sustancias se relacionaría con los déficits neuropsicológicos, lo que, a su vez, facilitaría la reincidencia por parte de los maltratadores. Por lo tanto, el primer objetivo de este estudio fue el de analizar si existían diferencias entre un grupo de maltratadores con abuso de sustancias (n = 104) y otro sin consumo de sustancias (n = 120) en comparación con un grupo de hombres no violentos (n = 82). En segundo lugar, examinamos si existían diferencias en la reincidencia entre los grupos de maltratadores y si estas diferencias se explicaban por su funcionamiento neuropsicológico. Nuestros resultados pusieron de manifiesto que los maltratadores con abuso de sustancias mostraron un peor rendimiento cognitivo que los controles. Además, también encontramos diferencias entre el grupo de maltratadores sin abuso de sustancias y los controles, pero solo en las funciones ejecutivas. Del mismo modo, no hubo diferencias en el rendimiento neuropsicológico entre los dos grupos de maltratadores, aunque aquellos con abuso de sustancias presentaron tasas de reincidencia más altas que aquellos sin consumo de sustancias. Finalmente, la flexibilidad cognitiva, la fluidez verbal y el peor funcionamiento de la atención se relacionaron con una alta reincidencia en ambos grupos de maltratadores. Este estudio subraya la importancia de realizar evaluaciones neuropsicológicas durante las etapas iniciales de los programas de intervención para los maltratadores con el fin de diseñar programas neuropsicológicos o de entrenamiento cognitivo para abordar no solo las necesidades psicológicas (incluido el abuso de sustancias) de los maltratadores, sino también sus necesidades neuropsicológicas.

Neuropsychological Performance, Substance Misuse, and Recidivism in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators / [Rendimiento neuropsicológico, abuso de sustancias y reincidencia en hombres penados por violencia contra la mujer en las relaciones de pareja]

Previous research has pointed out the importance of neuropsychological impairments in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators for reoffending/recidivism once treatment ends. However, less is known about whether substance misuse is associated with impairments or deficits, which facilitate recidivism. In this study, we first aimed to assess whether IPV perpetrators with (n = 104) and without (n = 120) substance misuse showed differences in specific neuropsychological variables in comparison with non-violent men (n = 82). Second, we examined whether there were differences in IPV perpetrators’ recidivism and whether these differences were explained by neuropsychological performance. Our results revealed that IPV perpetrators with substance misuse showed worse cognitive performance than controls. Furthermore, we also found differences between IPV perpetrators without substance misuse and controls, but only in terms of executive functioning. There were no differences in neuropsychological performance between the two groups of IPV perpetrators, although those with substance misuse presented higher recidivism rates than those without substance misuse. Finally, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, and worse attention functioning were related to high recidivism in both groups of IPV perpetrators. This study underlies the importance of performing neuropsychological assessments during the initial stages of intervention programs for IPV perpetrators in order to design coadjutant neuropsychological/cognitive training to address not only the psychological needs (including substance misuse) of IPV perpetrators, but also their neuropsychological needs.(AU)

La investigación previa ha puesto de manifiesto la importancia de los déficits neuropsicológicos para la reincidencia en los hombres penados por violencia contra la mujer en las relaciones de pareja (o maltratadores) una vez que han finalizado el tratamiento. Sin embargo, disponemos de un menor conocimiento sobre si el abuso de sustancias se relacionaría con los déficits neuropsicológicos, lo que, a su vez, facilitaría la reincidencia por parte de los maltratadores. Por lo tanto, el primer objetivo de este estudio fue el de analizar si existían diferencias entre un grupo de maltratadores con abuso de sustancias (n = 104) y otro sin consumo de sustancias (n = 120) en comparación con un grupo de hombres no violentos (n = 82). En segundo lugar, examinamos si existían diferencias en la reincidencia entre los grupos de maltratadores y si estas diferencias se explicaban por su funcionamiento neuropsicológico. Nuestros resultados pusieron de manifiesto que los maltratadores con abuso de sustancias mostraron un peor rendimiento cognitivo que los controles. Además, también encontramos diferencias entre el grupo de maltratadores sin abuso de sustancias y los controles, pero solo en las funciones ejecutivas. Del mismo modo, no hubo diferencias en el rendimiento neuropsicológico entre los dos grupos de maltratadores, aunque aquellos con abuso de sustancias presentaron tasas de reincidencia más altas que aquellos sin consumo de sustancias. Finalmente, la flexibilidad cognitiva, la fluidez verbal y el peor funcionamiento de la atención se relacionaron con una alta reincidencia en ambos grupos de maltratadores. Este estudio subraya la importancia de realizar evaluaciones neuropsicológicas durante las etapas iniciales de los programas de intervención para los maltratadores con el fin de diseñar programas neuropsicológicos o de entrenamiento cognitivo para abordar no solo las necesidades psicológicas (incluido el abuso de sustancias) de los maltratadores...(AU)

The Interaction between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Neuropsychological Deficits for Explaining Dropout and Recidivism of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators / La interacción entre el trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad y los déficits neuropsicológicos para explicar el abandono prematuro de la intervención y la reincidencia de los maltratadores

Objective: Even though previous research has identified the negative impact of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, less is known regarding the moderator factors that explain this association. In this study, we first aimed to assess whether there would be differences in terms of specific neuropsychological variables (e.g., IQ, working memory, executive functioning, and emotion decoding) between different groups of IPV perpetrators, affected or not by ADHD, and also compared with non-violent men (without ADHD). Second, we evaluated differences in dropout and recidivism among the subgroups of IPV perpetrators. Third, we assessed whether ADHD interacts with neuropsychological functioning to explain treatment compliance (dropout) and official recidivism among IPV perpetrators. Method: We administered a set of neuropsychological tests and self-reports to a group of IPV perpetrators with ADHD (n = 161), without ADHD (n = 163), and non-violent men (n = 103). Data on IPV perpetrators’ treatment compliance and official recidivism were collected after treatment. Results: Our results indicated that all the groups of IPV perpetrators presented worse performance in all cognitive domains than controls. Furthermore, ADHD IPV perpetrators also showed worse performance in all cognitive domains than IPV perpetrators without ADHD, except for emotion decoding abilities. Most importantly, the combined subtype of ADHD IPV perpetrators presented the highest rate of dropout and official recidivism. Lastly, ADHD diagnosis and neuropsychological impairments separately offered a considerable explanation of treatment compliance and recidivism but their combination did not increase the amount of explained variance. Conclusions: Our study highlights the need to implement good screening processes for correctly diagnosing IPV perpetrators and, consequently, designing more effective intervention programs. (AU)

Objetivo: Existen múltiples investigaciones que han identificado el impacto negativo del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH) en la perpetración de la violencia contra la mujer en las relaciones de pareja. Sin embargo, existen menos evidencias sobre los factores moderadores que explicarían la asociación entre dichas variables. Por lo tanto, el primer objetivo de este estudio ha sido valorar si existen diferencias en variables neuropsicológicas específicas (p. ej., cociente intelectual, memoria de trabajo, funcionamiento ejecutivo y decodificación de las emociones) entre diferentes grupos de hombres que ejercen violencia contra la mujer en las relaciones de pareja (o maltratadores), afectados o no por el TDAH, y también en comparación con hombres no violentos (sin TDAH). En segundo lugar, evaluamos las diferencias en el abandono prematuro de la intervención y la reincidencia entre los subgrupos de maltratadores. En tercer lugar, calculamos si el TDAH interactuaba con el funcionamiento neuropsicológico para explicar el abandono prematuro de la intervención y la reincidencia oficial en maltratadores. Método: Administramos un conjunto de pruebas neuropsicológicas y autoinformes a un grupo de maltratadores con TDAH (n = 161), sin TDAH (n = 163) y hombres no violentos (n = 103). Tras finalizar el tratamiento se recopilaron datos sobre el cumplimiento del tratamiento de los maltratadores y la reincidencia oficial. (AU)

Dropout and recidivism are partly explained by emotional decoding and perspective taking deficits of intimate partner violence perpetrators.

Professionals and researchers have dedicated important efforts to understanding the underlying factors that explain the failure to complete interventions (dropout) and the recidivism of men convicted of intimate partner violence (IPV) against their female partners. There is a growing interest in measuring emotional decoding and empathic deficits in IPV perpetrators to better understand dropout and recidivism proneness, due to their direct impact on behavioral regulation. In the current study, we first aimed to examine whether the emotional decoding abilities of facial expressions and empathic abilities (cognitive and emotional), as well as their interrelationships in IPV perpetrators (n = 561), would explain dropout, treatment attendance, and recidivism (risk and official) once treatment ended. Our results allowed us to conclude that emotional decoding abilities and perspective taking (cognitive empathy) were significantly and negatively associated with dropout and recidivism. Two moderation models were significant. On the one hand, participants with low emotional decoding abilities presented lower intervention doses the lower their perspective taking. Furthermore, the percentage of participants that reoffended was higher among individuals with low and moderate perspective taking who dropped out. Therefore, our study highlights the importance of conducting emotional decoding and empathic assessments during the initial stages of intervention programs to clearly outline the therapeutic needs of IPV perpetrators. This would allow designing coadjuvant and complementary training programs that can support the main interventions by increasing treatment adherence and, in turn, reducing the risk of recidivism.

Reactive vs proactive aggression: A differential psychobiological profile? Conclusions derived from a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Scholars have established subcategories of aggressive behavior in order to better understand this construct. Specifically, a classification based on motivational underpinnings makes it possible to differentiate between reactive and proactive aggression. Whereas reactive aggression is characterized by emotional lability, which means it is prone to impulsive reactions after provocation, proactive aggression is driven by low emotionality and high levels of instrumentality to obtain benefits. Some authors have conceived these two types as having a dichotomous nature, but others argue against this conceptualization, considering a complementary model more suitable. Hence, neuroscientific research might help to clarify discussions about their nature because biological markers do not present the same biases as psychological instruments. AIM: The main objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of studies that assess underlying biological markers (e.g., genes, brain, psychophysiological, and hormonal) of reactive and proactive aggression. METHODS: To carry out this review, we followed PRISMA quality criteria for reviews, using five digital databases complemented by hand-searching. RESULTS: The reading of 3993 abstracts led to the final inclusion of 157 papers that met all the inclusion criteria. The studies included allow us to conclude that heritability accounted for approximately 45% of the explained variance in both types of aggression, with 60% shared by both, especially, for overt and physical expression forms, and 10% specific to each type. Regarding allelic risk factors, whereas low functioning variants affecting serotonin transport and monoaminoxidase increased the risk of reactive aggression, high functioning variants were associated with proactive aggression. Furthermore, brain analysis revealed an overlap between the two types of aggression and alterations in the volume of the amygdala and temporal cortex. Moreover, high activation of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) facilitated proneness to both types of aggression equally. Whereas stimulation of the right ventrolateral (VLPFC) and dorsolateral (DLPFC) reduced proneness to aggression, inhibition of the left DLPFC increased it. Finally, psychophysiological and hormonal correlates in general did not clearly differentiate between the two types because they were equally related to each type (e.g., low basal cortisol and vagal variability in response to acute stress) CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforces the complementary model of both types of aggression instead of a dichotomous model. Additionally, this review also offers background about several treatments (i.e., pharmacological, non-invasive brain techniques…) to reduce aggression proneness.

A Systematic Review of the Role of Oxytocin, Cortisol, and Testosterone in Facial Emotional Processing.

A topic of interest is the way decoding and interpreting facial emotional expressions can lead to mutual understanding. Facial emotional expression is a basic source of information that guarantees the functioning of other higher cognitive processes (e.g., empathy, cooperativity, prosociality, or decision-making, among others). In this regard, hormones such as oxytocin, cortisol, and/or testosterone have been found to be important in modifying facial emotion processing. In fact, brain structures that participate in facial emotion processing have been shown to be rich in receptors for these hormones. Nonetheless, much of this research has been based on correlational designs. In recent years, a growing number of researchers have tried to carry out controlled laboratory manipulation of these hormones by administering synthetic forms of these hormones. The main objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of studies that assess whether manipulation of these three hormones effectively promotes significant alterations in facial emotional processing. To carry out this review, PRISMA quality criteria for reviews were followed, using the following digital databases: PsycINFO, PubMed, Dialnet, Psicodoc, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library, and focusing on manuscripts with a robust research design (e.g., randomized, single- or double-blind, and/or placebo-controlled) to increase the value of this systematic review. An initial identification of 6340 abstracts and retrieval of 910 full texts led to the final inclusion of 101 papers that met all the inclusion criteria. Only about 18% of the manuscripts included reported a direct effect of hormone manipulation. In fact, emotional accuracy seemed to be enhanced after oxytocin increases, but it diminished when cortisol and/or testosterone increased. Nonetheless, when emotional valence and participants' gender were included, hormonal manipulation reached significance (in around 53% of the articles). In fact, these studies offered a heterogeneous pattern in the way these hormones altered speed processing, attention, and memory. This study reinforces the idea that these hormones are important, but not the main modulators of facial emotion processing. As our comprehension of hormonal effects on emotional processing improves, the potential to design good treatments to improve this ability will be greater.