Psychopathic traits and lifestyle in flunitrazepam abusersShow others and affiliations
2005 (English)In: Article in journal (Other academic) Submitted
Abstract [en]
The abuse of flunitrazepam (FZ) compounds is world-wide. We have examined whether any of the four facets of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) (Interpersonal, Affective, Lifestyle, and Antisocial) (Hare, 2003) is related to different substance use disorders, with the focus on FZ abuse. Participants were 114 male offenders aged 14-35 years, all of whom were convicted for severe, predominantly violent, offences. Abuse of FZ was more common in offenders who scored high in Facet 4 (Antisocial) of the PCL-R (odds ratio = 4.30, 95% C.I. 1.86 - 9.94). Using all 20 PCL‑R items as individual predictors of being an FZ abuser, only one of the items, Item 20) (Criminal versatility) was significantly associated with FZ abuse (odds ratio = 3.72, 95% C.I. 1.85 - 7.50). We suggest that abuse of FZ is more common in offenders who score high in Facet 4, and that FZ abuse is significantly associated with Item 20. Our results show that clinicians and those who develop or manage therapeutic programs should be aware of FZ abuse when choosing the most effective treatment for young mentally disordered severe offenders.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2005.
Keywords [en]
Flunitrazepam abuse, psychopathy (PCL-R, PCL-YV), the 4-facet model, male offenders
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Research subject
SOCIAL SCIENCE, Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hv:diva-5046OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hv-5046DiVA, id: diva2:586059
Projects
Dyslexi bland rättspsykiatriskt undersökta män: Psykologiska, sociala och biologiska indikatorer“Dr. Jekyll och Mr. Hyde beteende” bland manliga kriminella ungdomar i samband med alkohol kombinerad med bensodiazepiner: Biologiska och psykologiska indikatorer
Note
Ingår som manuskript (study IV) i doktorsavhandling "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?" (medicine doctor), 2005, Karolinska Institutet. Senare publicerat i kraftigt omarbetat form.
2013-01-102013-01-102023-04-05Bibliographically approved