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Internal consistency and factor structure of personality disorders in a forensic intellectual disability sample
- Authors:
- LINDSAY William R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 32(2), June 2007, pp.134-142.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The publication of the DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association (APA), 1980) prompted a significant increase in interest and research on personality disorder (PD), and the concept has subsequently been incorporated into mental health legislation in the developed world. Despite this, such research on people with intellectual disability (ID) has been sporadic, with widely varying results. The present study addresses a number of criticisms directed at previous research. DSM-IV (APA, 2000) diagnoses of PD were made on 164 participants with ID on the basis of four independent sources of classification. Reliability data for each PD was acceptable and alpha was .74 or above, with the exception of schizotypal PD (.63). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, with the former revealing a 4-factor solution accounting for 58.9% of the variance, and a 2-factor solution accounting for 37.2% of the variance emerging for the latter. The factors were orthogonal, and the first factor was named "avoidant/rumination/inhibited" and the second factor "acting out". The authors review these findings in relation to previous research on PD and alternative frameworks for the understanding of personality. It is hypothesised consistencies between these findings and previous work on personality and ID. A number of drawbacks to the research are discussed, including a caution on the pejorative nature of a diagnosis of PD in an already devalued population.
Two studies on the prevalence and validity of personality disorder in three forensic intellectual disability samples
- Authors:
- LINDSAY William R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 17(3), September 2006, pp.485-505.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
There is an extensive research literature on the association between personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and risk of future violent and sexual offences. Several studies have found an elevated prevalence of personality disorder diagnoses amongst those individuals with severe mental illness and criminal populations. While there has been some work on the prevalence of personality disorder among intellectual disability populations, it has been criticised as being unreliable and inconsistent. The present authors have taken account of these criticisms and recommendations in this comparison of 164 offenders with intellectual disability across three settings – community, medium/low secure, and high secure. In Study 1, DSM-IV diagnoses were made on the basis of four information sources: file review, interview with clinician, observations by care staff, and the Structured Assessment of Personality Interview. Across the samples, total prevalence of PD was 39.3%. The most common diagnosis was antisocial personality disorder. There was a higher rate of diagnosis in the high security setting, with no significant differences between the other two settings. There was no diagnosis of dependent PD, indicating that assessors were not overly influenced by the developmental disability itself. In Study 2 it was found that increase in severity of PD (as indicated by PCL-R scores and/or the number of PD diagnoses) showed a strong lawful relationship with instruments predicting future violence (VRAG, RM 2000/V) and a weaker relationship with instruments predicting future sexual offences (Static-99, RM 2000/S). The results indicate the utility of PD classification in this client group and that a number of individuals with PD classification are being managed successfully in community settings. These findings have considerable implications for staffing, both in terms of which individuals can be treated by these services and staff training.
Assessment and treatment of sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities: a handbook
- Editors:
- CRAIG Leam A., LINDSAY William R., BROWNE Kevin D., (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 375p.
- Place of publication:
- Chichester
Contributors from the field of forensic psychology contribute to cover theory, research and practical intervention for those working with intellectually disabled sex offenders. Latest research findings on the characteristics and prevalence of sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities are summarised. Key topics covered include: theories of sexual offending, developmental pathways, risk assessment, personality disorders and psychopathy, community and prison based treatment programmes, and legal and mental health services. The available literature on sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities is reviewed along with the latest treatment approaches and legislative developments.