Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 2 , Pages 59-63, February 2009

Qualitative and quantitative EEG abnormalities in violent offenders with antisocial personality disorder

  • Ana Calzada Reyes, MD ((Assistant Professor))

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Neurophysiology Speciality, Neurophysiology Department, Legal Medicine Institute, Avenue 25, No. 15202, Cubanacan, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +53 7 208 6321; fax: +53 7 208 6707.
    • ,
  • Alfredo Alvarez Amador, MD, PhD ((Senior Research))

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Neurophysiology Speciality, Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Cuban Neuroscience Center, Avenue 25, No. 15202, Cubanacan, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
    • Tel.: +53 7 208 6321; fax: +53 7 208 6707.

Received 17 March 2008; accepted 16 August 2008.

Abstract 

Resting eyes closed electroencephalogram was studied in a group of violent offenders evaluated at Psychiatric Department of the Legal Medicine Institute in Cuba (18 with antisocial personality disorder, ASPD, and 10 without psychiatric diagnosis). Characteristics of the EEG visual inspection and the use of frequency domain quantitative analysis techniques (narrow band spectral parameters) are described. Both groups were compared to Cuban normative database. High incidences of electroencephalographic abnormalities were found in both groups of violent offenders. The most frequent were: electrogenesis alterations, attenuated alpha rhythm and theta and delta activities increase in the frontal lobe. In the quantitative analysis theta and delta frequencies were increased and alpha activity was decreased in both groups. Differences appear for the topographical patterns present in subjects of both groups. EEG abnormalities were more severe in ASPD than in control group. Results suggest that EEG abnormalities in violent offenders should reflect aspects of brain dysfunction related to antisocial behaviour.

Keywords: Electroencephalogram, Antisocial personality disorder, Violent offender, Quantitative EEG analysis

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PII: S1752-928X(08)00155-8

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.08.001

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 2 , Pages 59-63, February 2009

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