Biopsychosocial Characteristics of Matched Samples of Delinquents and Nondelinquents

Matched samples of 31 incarcerated delinquents and 31 nondelinquents were compared neuropsychiatrically. The constellation of abuse/family violence, severe psychiatric symptomatology, cognitive impairment, minor neurological signs, and psychomotor symptoms correctly predicted group membership nearly 84% of the time. The most significant variable was abuse/family violence. This constellation also distinguished the more aggressive from the less aggressive subjects in each group. The existence of a syndrome characteristic of recurrently violent individuals composed of the above variables is suggested.