The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy are associated with the kind of neoadjuvant therapy in stage ypI rectal cancer: evidence based on population analysis.

PURPOSE: The oncological role of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) remains debated in locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), especially ypI RC. In this study, we used population-based data to evaluate the benefits of ACT in stage ypI RC after NAT and surgery. Moreover, we tried to differentiate what kind of NAT (radiotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy) was administered because this may affect the further efficacy of ACT. METHODS: All patients with stage ypI primary rectal malignancy were diagnosed in the SEER database between 2004 and 2017. The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to estimate the effects of ACT in survival analysis. Cox regression was performed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and the prognosis factors of survival. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the parameters between therapy groups. RESULTS: The overall cohort's median follow-up time was 105 months. For 5-year OS and CSS, there were no significant differences between the ACT ( +) and ACT (-) groups (p = 0.105; p = 0.788). However, subgroup analyses according to the kind of NAT found that ACT improved overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients who received neoadjuvant radiotherapy (nRT) (p < 0.001, p = 0.015). Among patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), no significant survival benefits were found between the ACT ( +) and ACT (-) groups (p = 0.526, p = 0.288). CONCLUSION: Our population-based cohort study suggested that the efficacy of ACT was associated with the kind of NAT. The ACT provides survival benefits in stage ypI RC for patients who received nRT. However, among patients who received nCRT, ACT did not improve long-term survival.

Psychometric properties of the German version of the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory - short version.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study is to examine the psychometric properties of the German Version of the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory-Short Version (YPI-S). METHODS: A sample of 856 adolescents (age: 15-19) from the German-speaking part of Switzerland was included. All participants completed the 50-item YPI, of which we derived the 18 items of the YPI-S. Furthermore, participants completed the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version-2 (MAYSI-2), as well a self-report delinquency questionnaire. RESULTS: We were able to replicate a three-factor structure and found moderate to good internal consistency for the total score as well as for the three dimensions of the YPI-S. Measurement invariance across gender was established. Furthermore, we found positive small to medium correlations with both internalizing and externalizing mental health problems, substance abuse problems, and offending behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the German version of the YPI-S is a reliable and valid screening instrument for psychopathic traits in both boys and girls from the general population in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

[Does the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) identify a clinically relevant subgroup among young offenders?]. / Identifiziert das Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) eine klinisch bedeutsame Untergruppe junger Straftäter?

Objective: Does the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory identify one or more high-risk subgroups among young offenders? Which recommendations for possible courses of action can be derived for individual clinical or forensic cases? Method: Model-based cluster analysis (Raftery, 1995) was conducted on a sample of young offenders (N = 445, age 14­22 years, M = 18.5, SD = 1.65). The resulting model was then tested for differences between clusters with relevant context variables of psychopathy. The variables included measures of intelligence, social competence, drug use, and antisocial behavior. Results: Three clusters were found (Low Trait, Impulsive/Irresponsible, Psychopathy) that differ highly significantly concerning YPI scores and the variables mentioned above. The YPI Scores Δ Low = 4.28 (Low Trait ­ Impulsive/Irresponsible) and Δ High = 6.86 (Impulsive/Irresponsible ­ Psychopathy) were determined to be thresholds between the clusters. Conclusions: The allocation of a person to be assessed within the calculated clusters allows for an orientation of consequent tests beyond the diagnosis of psychopathy. We conclude that the YPI is a valuable instrument for the assessment of young offenders, as it yields clinically and forensically relevant information concerning the cause and expected development of psychopathological behavior.

Limited prosocial emotions (LPE) specifier in conduct disorder and offending behavior: findings from a 10-year prospective longitudinal study of juveniles in residential care.

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5, a limited prosocial emotion (LPE) specifier has been added to the conduct disorder (CD) diagnosis in addition to the age of onset specifier. It was suggested that this would identify a subgroup with severe antisocial and/or aggressive behavior with serious current and future (mental health) impairment. Research in recent years has shown that this is indeed a subgroup with severe antisocial behavior; however, mental health problems do not appear to differ from those of youth with CD without LPE. Most research to date has been cross-sectional. However, longitudinal research is urgently needed to better understand the predictive value of the LPE specifier. The aim of the current longitudinal study is to examine future offending behavior of youth with CD with compared to youth without the LPE specifier. In addition, the predictive value of the categorical LPE specifier and the dimensional LPE score will be examined beyond factors that are strongly associated with future offending (i.e., gender, age, and prior offending). METHODS: Adolescents and young adults (12-25) with CD (assessed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version [K-SADS-PL]) with (N = 61) and without (N = 75) the LPE specifier (assessed with the Callous-Unemotional [CU] dimension of the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory [YPI]) (in line with Jambroes et al., 2016) were compared on sociodemographic characteristics, mental health problems and offending behavior. Future (general and violent) offending was based on official conviction data. RESULTS: Our results showed that youth with CD with and without the LPE specifier did not differ in self-reported and informant-reported mental health problems. However, youth with CD with the LPE specifier showed more offending behavior and personality pathology at baseline. In addition, the categorical LPE specifier was associated with future general offending, but not with future violent offending. The dimensional LPE score was associated with both future general and violent offending. However, after adjustment for gender, age, and prior delinquency, these associations disappeared, with the exception of the association between the dimensional LPE score and violent offending, which remained significant even after controlling for gender, age, and prior violent offending. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, there seems to be evidence of a relationship between limited prosocial emotions and future offending behavior in youth with CD. This relationship, however, should not be overestimated, as there are other (static) factors (e.g. gender and prior offending behavior) that also have a strong influence on future (violent) offending behavior. Still, from a clinical point of view, a dynamic factor like prosocial emotional skills is a good focus for reducing the risk of future offending behavior.

The Persian version of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short Version (YPI-S): A psychometric evaluation.

Studies on the psychopathy construct are mostly limited to Western cultures, and there is a lack of research in this area in non-Western countries, specifically in Iran. The present study aimed to examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the Persian version of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short Version (YPI-S) with a sample of 668 school-attending adolescents in Iran (46% girls; Mage = 16.35). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the proposed three-factor model. While the internal consistency of some YPI-S scores was unsatisfactory, the YPI-S scores showed the expected relations with external correlates (e.g., aggression, hyperactivity), supporting the validity of YPI-S scores. The authors' results supported the YPI-S for assessing psychopathic traits in Iranian adolescents. The modification of the YPI-S factor structure, the low factor loadings of some YPI-S items, and the inadequate internal consistency of some YPI-S dimensions indicate cultural influences on the assessment of cross-cultural traits.

Stability of self-reported psychopathic traits in at-risk adolescents in youth welfare and juvenile justice institutions.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the self-reported stability of psychopathic traits in adolescents in residential care (both child welfare and juvenile justice placed juveniles) and potential influencing factors. METHODS: We applied the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory (YPI) in a sample of 162 adolescents (M = 15.0 years, SD = 1.3) over a mean time interval of 11 months (min. 6, max. 21 months, SD = 3.14). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in YPI total score nor in the three underlying dimensions Grandiose-Manipulative (GM), Callous-Unemotional (CU), and Impulsive-Irresponsible (II) between t1 and t2. Furthermore, approximately 70% of the adolescents showed no clinically significant reliable change on the YPI total score (as measured with the reliable change index), 15% improved, 15% deteriorated. The strongest predictor for psychopathic traits at t2 were psychopathic traits at t1. Additional predictors for higher levels of general psychopathic traits was male sex, for CU-traits male sex and lower levels of internalizing mental health problems, and for II-traits higher levels of externalizing mental health problems. Generally, the three reliable change groups (increase, no change, decrease) did not seemed to differ on relevant factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results add to the findings that psychopathic traits are relatively stable in this at-risk group over approximately a 1-year time interval. Research with a longer follow-up time and more time points is warranted to better interpret these results.

Self-Schema, Attachment Style, and Treatment Outcome of Patients in an Opiate Maintenance Treatment Unit.

The aim of this study was to explore self-schemas and attachment style among patients in a methadone or buprenorphine maintenance treatment program of opiate dependence, in relation to treatment outcome (relapse in substance use). The study included 84 patients (21 women and 63 men) in a psychiatric clinic in Malmö, Sweden, providing maintenance treatment of opiate dependence. Three self-report instruments were employed, Young Schema Questionnaire Short version (YSQ-S) and Young Parenting Inventory (YPI) for studying self-schemas and Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures questionnaire (ECR-RS) for studying attachment style. Demographical data and relapse in substance abuse were registered. The study demonstrated, unsurprisingly, that an insecure attachment style was more common in the group of patients compared to available general population reference data. Significant correlations were found between attachment style and core beliefs about the self (self-schemas). Memories of parenting experiences from childhood (YPI) showed correlations with ongoing self-schemas (YSQ-S). Treatment outcome, defined as relapses in substance abuse, was associated to a minor degree with self-schemas but showed no correlation with attachment style. Patients who did not work or study had more maladaptive self-schemas and insecure attachment style, and a higher incidence of relapse in abuse than patients who were working or studying.

A taxometric analysis of psychopathy in a Chinese prison sample.

As psychopathy is one of the major personality disorders-relating to severe pathological syndromes of personality-clarity concerning the nature of the latent structure of psychopathy is necessary for accurate assessment. In the present study, psychopathy was assessed in 339 Chinese male prisoners aged 18 to 35 years with three subscales of the Youth Psychopathy Trait Inventory - Short Version (YPI-SV). Three different taxometric analyses were used to assess the taxonicity of psychopathy, and a three-factor solution to the YPI-SV was used as the basis of the analysis. Consistency tests of the three different procedures showed strongly that the latent structure was dimensional rather than categorical. Moreover, the mean comparison curve fit index was close to .40, which also clearly indicates a dimensional result. These results confirm the fact that the factor solution applies in most studies of psychopathy.