Kevin Wilson

Crime profiles and conditional release performance of psychopathic and non-psychopathic sexual offenders

Purpose. This study investigated the influence of psychopath ya nd sex offender subtype on criminal history, probability of being granted conditional release ,a nd performance while on conditional release in ad iverse group of violent offenders. We predicted that psychopathic sexual offenders would be associated with relatively prolific violent and sexual offending, ah igh probability of successful conditional release applications despite their past behaviour (resulting from ‘putting on ag ood show’ in a parole hearing), and poor performance in the community. Methods. Information was gathere dv ia ac orrectional file review of 310 Canadian male federal offenders. Offenders wer ec ategorized into groups based on their sexual offence histor y( non-sex offender ,r apist, child molester ,o rm ixed rapist/molester) and Psychopath yC hecklist –R evised (PCL-R; Hare, 2003) ratings. Their offences (sexual, violent, or non-violent) and their complete conditional release histories wer ec oded. Results. Psychopath yw as associated with more violent and non-violent, but not sexual, offences. As ignificant interaction between psychopath ya nd offender subtype revealed that psychopath yw as associated with ag reater number of sex offences within child molesters. High-psychopath yo ffenders (both sexual and non-sexual offenders) wer ea bout 2.5 times more likely to be granted conditional release than nonpsychopathic offenders. Conclusions. Psychopath yi sa ssociated with more prolific sexual offending among child molesters and –d espite their extensiv ec riminal histories and high recidivism rate –a great proficiency in persuading parole boards to release them into the community. Specialized education and training in dealing with psychopathic offenders is urgently needed.

Fear and loathing in psychopaths: a meta-analytic investigation of the facial affect recognition deficit

Several studies have identified an association between psychopathy and deficits in facial affect recognition. Although this finding is widely seen as providing strong evidence for amygdala dysfunction in psychopaths, this interpretation is challenged by studies finding no recognition impairments. An alternative hypothesis predicts that recognition deficits are dynamic and are influenced by verbal processing demands. These competing hypotheses were tested via a meta-analysis of 22 investigations of psychopathy (N = 1,387 participants) using the facial affect recognition paradigm. Results indicated that studies entailing a verbal response style found larger recognition deficits for emotions processed by the left amygdala. The findings of this review offer an alternative to currently popular theories of psychopathy and suggest that future research should consider response style when investigating facial affect recognition deficits in this population.

Risk of depression and multiple sexual risk-taking behaviours in adolescents in Nova Scotia, Canada.

BACKGROUND Although depression is known to be associated with adolescent sexual risk-taking, Canadian studies are few, many have lacked appropriate controls and none has examined the associations of depression with multiple sexual risk-taking behaviours. We tested associations between multiple sexual risk-taking and risk of depression, controlling for other factors, including social capital, in high school students in Nova Scotia, Canada. METHODS We surveyed sexually active male (n=418) and female (n=467) adolescents. Participants were asked about their risk of depression, perceptions of social capital, substance use, sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviours. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to determine associations of risk of depression with various levels of sexual risk-taking. RESULTS In unadjusted models, risk of depression was associated with two or more v. no sexual risk behaviours among both males and females. After controlling for other variables, risk of depression remained significantly associated with two or more sexual risks v. no risks for both females and males (relative risk ratios (RRR) of 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-4.5 and 3.5; 95% CI 1.6-7.82 respectively) and for one v. no risks for females (RRR=1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.5). One measure of social capital was associated with multiple risks in females. CONCLUSIONS The consistent, independent associations of risk of depression with multiple sexual risks should lead health care workers interacting with adolescents to ask about sexual risk behaviours among patients with symptoms of depression. Alternatively, patients who engage in sexual risk-taking might be screened for depression.

Sexual health among female Aboriginal university students in the Maritime Provinces of Canada: risk behaviours and health services use

UNLABELLED Background Young Aboriginal Canadian people are at increased risk of negative sexual health outcomes, including sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy. Associations between Aboriginal ethnicity and sexual risk behaviours and related health services use among sexually active female university students in eastern Canada were examined. METHODS A secondary analysis of online survey data collected from sexually active female university students under age 30 years from eight post-secondary institutions in the Maritime Provinces of Canada was carried out (N=5010). Students were asked about their ethnic backgrounds, health services use and sexual health behaviours. Logistic regressions were used to compare Aboriginal students to Caucasian students regarding their sexual health behaviours and services use. RESULTS In adjusted analyses, Aboriginal students were seen to be more likely to not have used a condom (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.34-4.18) or any form of effective contraception (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.75-5.31) at last intercourse. They also were more likely to report any lifetime testing for pregnancy (OR 5.81; 95% CI 3.07-10.99) and STIs (OR 2.95; 95% CI 1.11-7.82). Aboriginal students accessed university health services as often as their Caucasian counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Aboriginal women attending university in the Maritime Provinces of Canada engage in greater sexual risk taking than Caucasian women and report more related testing. Health services providers working with university students should be aware of these lower rates of barrier protection and use of contraception among Aboriginal women, and use healthcare visits as opportunities to engage these women in reducing their sexual risk taking.