A presente Dissertação de Mestrado consiste de um capítulo introdutório na qual são apresentados os quatro eixos que formam a estrutura teórica de dois estudos empíricos apresentados em forma de artigos. Os estudos foram realizados no Presídio Central de Porto Alegre e contaram com uma amostra de 50 prisioneiros sem condenação prévia com idades entre 18 e 35 anos. No primeiro estudo foram utilizados dois instrumentos: O Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) e a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Buscou-se verificar a qualidade dos vínculos afetivos entre os presidiários e seus pais, assim como avaliar os principais quadros psiquiátricos que acometem esta população. Para análise dos dados foram realizadas análises estatísticas com o Teste t e o Teste Qui-quadrado. Os resultados desse estudo revelaram a presença de diversos transtornos psiquiátricos e problemas no vínculos afetivos entre pais e filhos. Houve alta incidência de uso/dependência de drogas sendo a maconha e o crack as mais consumidas. Aqueles prisioneiros que apresentavam um Transtorno Antissocial de Personalidade (TASP) também apresentavam fracasso biparental. Independentemente do diagnóstico psiquiátrico os crimes mais freqüentes foram os contra o patrimônio. O segundo estudo procurou investigar a relação entre uso de álcool e drogas e comportamento sexual de risco para HIV/AIDS. Neste estudo o Addiction Severity Index (ASI6) foi o instrumento utilizado para avaliar gravidade de dependência e comportamento sexual. Os resultados indicaram que com o advento do crack houve uma redução no número de usuários de drogas injetáveis (UDI). Apesar disso, foi verificado que o risco para a contaminação com o vírus do HIV ainda é alto entre os prisioneiros. Duas são as possíveis razoes: um descuido geral em relação à saúde, e o sexo ter-se tornado uma moeda de troca por drogas. Ambos os estudos têm relevância uma vez que revelaram aspectos pouco conhecidos sobre a realidade daqueles que se encontram aprisionados. / The present Master's Dissertation consists of an introductory chapter in which four axes are presented. They constitute the theoretical structure involving two empirical studies presented in article format. The studies were carried out at the Presídio Central in Porto Alegre. The sample comprised 50 inmates, ranging from 18 to 35 years old. In the first study, two instruments were used: The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). It attempted to verify the quality of affective bonds between the inmates and their parents as well as to assess the main psychiatric histories which affected this population. For the data statistical analysis, the t Test and the Chi-square Test were used. The results revealed the presence of several psychiatric disorders and problems involving the affective bonds between parents and their sons. There was a high incidence of the use/dependency of drugs, with marijuana and crack being the most used. Those inmates who presented Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) also presented biparental failure. Independently from the psychiatric diagnosis, the most frequent crimes are the ones against the patrimony. The second study investigated the relation between the use of drugs and the risky sexual behavior for HIV/AIDS. In this study, the Addiction Severity index (ASI6) was the instrument used to assess the severity of dependency and sexual behavior. The results showed that, with the advent of crack, there was a decrease in the number of injecting drug users (IDU). Nevertheless, it was found that the risk for contamination with the HIV virus is still high among the inmates. There are two possible reasons for this to happen: a general disregard with health and the fact that sex became a certain kind of currency to be exchanged for drugs. Both studies are relevant since they demonstrate some unknown aspects about the reality of those inmates.

A presente Dissertação de Mestrado consiste de um capítulo introdutório na qual são apresentados os quatro eixos que formam a estrutura teórica de dois estudos empíricos apresentados em forma de artigos. Os estudos foram realizados no Presídio Central de Porto Alegre e contaram com uma amostra de 50 prisioneiros sem condenação prévia com idades entre 18 e 35 anos. No primeiro estudo foram utilizados dois instrumentos: O Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) e a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Buscou-se verificar a qualidade dos vínculos afetivos entre os presidiários e seus pais, assim como avaliar os principais quadros psiquiátricos que acometem esta população. Para análise dos dados foram realizadas análises estatísticas com o Teste t e o Teste Qui-quadrado. Os resultados desse estudo revelaram a presença de diversos transtornos psiquiátricos e problemas no vínculos afetivos entre pais e filhos. Houve alta incidência de uso/dependência de drogas sendo a maconha e o crack as mais consumidas. Aqueles prisioneiros que apresentavam um Transtorno Antissocial de Personalidade (TASP) também apresentavam fracasso biparental. Independentemente do diagnóstico psiquiátrico os crimes mais freqüentes foram os contra o patrimônio. O segundo estudo procurou investigar a relação entre uso de álcool e drogas e comportamento sexual de risco para HIV/AIDS. Neste estudo o Addiction Severity Index (ASI6) foi o instrumento utilizado para avaliar gravidade de dependência e comportamento sexual. Os resultados indicaram que com o advento do crack houve uma redução no número de usuários de drogas injetáveis (UDI). Apesar disso, foi verificado que o risco para a contaminação com o vírus do HIV ainda é alto entre os prisioneiros. Duas são as possíveis razoes: um descuido geral em relação à saúde, e o sexo ter-se tornado uma moeda de troca por drogas. Ambos os estudos têm relevância uma vez que revelaram aspectos pouco conhecidos sobre a realidade daqueles que se encontram aprisionados. / The present Master's Dissertation consists of an introductory chapter in which four axes are presented. They constitute the theoretical structure involving two empirical studies presented in article format. The studies were carried out at the Presídio Central in Porto Alegre. The sample comprised 50 inmates, ranging from 18 to 35 years old. In the first study, two instruments were used: The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). It attempted to verify the quality of affective bonds between the inmates and their parents as well as to assess the main psychiatric histories which affected this population. For the data statistical analysis, the t Test and the Chi-square Test were used. The results revealed the presence of several psychiatric disorders and problems involving the affective bonds between parents and their sons. There was a high incidence of the use/dependency of drugs, with marijuana and crack being the most used. Those inmates who presented Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) also presented biparental failure. Independently from the psychiatric diagnosis, the most frequent crimes are the ones against the patrimony. The second study investigated the relation between the use of drugs and the risky sexual behavior for HIV/AIDS. In this study, the Addiction Severity index (ASI6) was the instrument used to assess the severity of dependency and sexual behavior. The results showed that, with the advent of crack, there was a decrease in the number of injecting drug users (IDU). Nevertheless, it was found that the risk for contamination with the HIV virus is still high among the inmates. There are two possible reasons for this to happen: a general disregard with health and the fact that sex became a certain kind of currency to be exchanged for drugs. Both studies are relevant since they demonstrate some unknown aspects about the reality of those inmates.

A presente Dissertação de Mestrado consiste de um capítulo introdutório na qual são apresentados os quatro eixos que formam a estrutura teórica de dois estudos empíricos apresentados em forma de artigos. Os estudos foram realizados no Presídio Central de Porto Alegre e contaram com uma amostra de 50 prisioneiros sem condenação prévia com idades entre 18 e 35 anos. No primeiro estudo foram utilizados dois instrumentos: O Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) e a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Buscou-se verificar a qualidade dos vínculos afetivos entre os presidiários e seus pais, assim como avaliar os principais quadros psiquiátricos que acometem esta população. Para análise dos dados foram realizadas análises estatísticas com o Teste t e o Teste Qui-quadrado. Os resultados desse estudo revelaram a presença de diversos transtornos psiquiátricos e problemas no vínculos afetivos entre pais e filhos. Houve alta incidência de uso/dependência de drogas sendo a maconha e o crack as mais consumidas. Aqueles prisioneiros que apresentavam um Transtorno Antissocial de Personalidade (TASP) também apresentavam fracasso biparental. Independentemente do diagnóstico psiquiátrico os crimes mais freqüentes foram os contra o patrimônio. O segundo estudo procurou investigar a relação entre uso de álcool e drogas e comportamento sexual de risco para HIV/AIDS. Neste estudo o Addiction Severity Index (ASI6) foi o instrumento utilizado para avaliar gravidade de dependência e comportamento sexual. Os resultados indicaram que com o advento do crack houve uma redução no número de usuários de drogas injetáveis (UDI). Apesar disso, foi verificado que o risco para a contaminação com o vírus do HIV ainda é alto entre os prisioneiros. Duas são as possíveis razoes: um descuido geral em relação à saúde, e o sexo ter-se tornado uma moeda de troca por drogas. Ambos os estudos têm relevância uma vez que revelaram aspectos pouco conhecidos sobre a realidade daqueles que se encontram aprisionados. / The present Master's Dissertation consists of an introductory chapter in which four axes are presented. They constitute the theoretical structure involving two empirical studies presented in article format. The studies were carried out at the Presídio Central in Porto Alegre. The sample comprised 50 inmates, ranging from 18 to 35 years old. In the first study, two instruments were used: The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). It attempted to verify the quality of affective bonds between the inmates and their parents as well as to assess the main psychiatric histories which affected this population. For the data statistical analysis, the t Test and the Chi-square Test were used. The results revealed the presence of several psychiatric disorders and problems involving the affective bonds between parents and their sons. There was a high incidence of the use/dependency of drugs, with marijuana and crack being the most used. Those inmates who presented Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) also presented biparental failure. Independently from the psychiatric diagnosis, the most frequent crimes are the ones against the patrimony. The second study investigated the relation between the use of drugs and the risky sexual behavior for HIV/AIDS. In this study, the Addiction Severity index (ASI6) was the instrument used to assess the severity of dependency and sexual behavior. The results showed that, with the advent of crack, there was a decrease in the number of injecting drug users (IDU). Nevertheless, it was found that the risk for contamination with the HIV virus is still high among the inmates. There are two possible reasons for this to happen: a general disregard with health and the fact that sex became a certain kind of currency to be exchanged for drugs. Both studies are relevant since they demonstrate some unknown aspects about the reality of those inmates.

Orientador: Renata Cruz Soares de Azevedo / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T07:53:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_KarinaDiniz_M.pdf: 3531989 bytes, checksum: 73983ee9be66e7ef4a9bb7107251be13 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Objetivos Descrever o perfil sócio-demográfico e o padrão de uso em usuários e dependentes de substâncias psicoativas (SPA), que procuraram tratamento. Discutir a relação entre uso e dependência de SPA e o cometimento de atos criminosos. Métodos Estudo quantitativo, de corte transversal, realizado com 183 sujeitos maiores de 18 anos, usuários e/ou dependentes de uma ou mais substâncias psicoativas, em tratamento em dois serviços de saúde especializados em dependência química em Campinas-SP. Instrumentos aplicados: questionário de dados sócio-demográficos, padrão de consumo de substâncias psicoativas e eventual cometimento de delitos; itens das seções J, K e P do "Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview". Foi desenvolvida, a partir da exclusão dos itens do M.I.N.I. relacionados à criminalidade, uma nova variável, denominada Transtorno de Personalidade Antissocial Modificado (TPASm). Resultados Maioria masculina, com média de idade 40,8 anos, menos de 8 anos de escolaridade, poliusuários de substâncias psicoativas. Delitos foram cometidos por 40,4% da população; 27,9% preencheram critérios para transtorno de personalidade antissocial (TPAS). TPASm mostrou-se um fator relacionado ao cometimento de crimes, assim como o uso de solventes na adolescência (OR=5,442), não ter religião (OR= 6,783) e co-morbidade com TPAS (OR= 9,225). Conclusões Ser usuário ou dependente de SPA pode contribuir para a prática de crimes. A falta de religiosidade, o uso de solventes na adolescência e a co-morbidade com Transtorno de Personalidade Antissocial Modificado mostraram-se fatores de impacto no comportamento delitivo / Abstract: Objectives To describe the profile and pattern of use in substance abuse and dependents that looked for treatment in two centers in the city of Campinas, SP. Besides, discusses the relationship between criminal behavior and the use and dependence of psychoatives substances (PSA). Methods Quantitative cross-section study, 183 adult participants, users and/or dependents of one or multiples psychoatives substances, in treatment in two drug rehabilitation centers in the city of Campinas, Brazil during the years of 2008 and 2009. The measurements are a questionnaire containing sociodemographic data, the subject's pattern of consumption of psychoactive drugs, and the practice of committing crimes. Items from Sections J, K and P of the "Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. A new variable was described as "modified" ASPD (ASPDm), which was determined by excluding the items on the MINI directly related to criminality. Results The respondents were male, average age was 40.8, less than 8 years of shooling. Poliuse of psychoactive substances. Criminal acts had been practiced by40,4% of the sample; 51 complied with criteria for ASPD. The variables correlated with criminal behavior were: ASPDm, absence of religious practice (OR=6,783), diagnosis of ASPD (OR=9,225) and the antecedent of use of solvents (OR=5,442). Conclusion Being a user or addict of one or multiple substances was can be a factor for practicing criminal acts. Besides, the use of solvents in adolescence, lack of religiosity and comorbity with ASPD were seen as having an impact on the practice of criminal acts / Mestrado / Saude Mental / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

MORANA, HCP. Identificação do ponto de corte para a escala PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist Revised) em população forense brasileira : caracterização de dois subtipos de personalidade ; transtorno global e parcial. São Paulo, 2003. 178p. Tese (Doutorado) – Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo. No Brasil, não existem até o momento, na esfera jurídico-penal, instrumentos padronizados que permitam a identificação de sujeitos que possam vir a reincidir em crimes, principalmente os de natureza violenta e cruel. O PCL-R, já amplamente utilizado e institucionalizado em diversos países, preenche esta lacuna. Este estudo visa discriminar, através da análise da personalidade, sujeitos considerados psicopatas e não psicopatas, correlacionados neste estudo como transtorno global (TG) e parcial (TP) da personalidade, respectivamente. O grupo de estudo é composto por 56 sujeitos denominados de POPULAÇÃO FORENSE, sendo: 33 sujeitos identificados como TG e 23 sujeitos identificados como TP. Todos os 56 sujeitos foram analisados através dos dados clínicos, institucionais, da Prova de Rorschach e do PCL-R. Esta população foi comparada a 30 sujeitos denominados de POPULAÇÃO CONTROLE, e que também foram avaliados pelos mesmos instrumentos do grupo de estudo. A personalidade, de ambos os grupos da população forense, se relaciona a condutas anti-sociais, mas apresenta diferenças quanto à dinâmica psíquica e às repercussões sobre o comportamento. A correta identificação de tais sujeitos apresenta implicações diversas para o sistema forense e penitenciário e pode vir a contribuir para diminuir os índices de reincidência criminal e de violência no país. A validação do instrumento (PCL-R) e identificação do ponto de corte para a condição de psicopatia (TG em nossa notação) foi realizada através do uso concorrente entre ambos os instrumentos e resultou no valor de 23 (IC=21,61 a 24,05). A média encontrada foi de 28,63 (IC=26,78 a 30,48). O valor da medida da sensibilidade foi de 84,8% e a confiabilidade entre ambos os instrumentos, medida através do índice Kappa, foi considerada elevada, resultando no valor de 0,8735. / MORANA, HCP. Identifying the Brazilian PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist Revised) cut-off score for forensic population : characterizing two personality subtypes; global personality disorder (GPD) and Partial personality disorder (PPD). São Paulo, 2003. 178p. Tese (Doutorado) – Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo. In Brazil, there have been no standardized instruments in the legal and penal field so far that enable-identifying subjects who may relapse into crime, mainly those crimes of violent and cruel nature. The PCL-R, broadly used and institutionalized in several countries, fills such gap. The goal of the present study is to discriminate, through in-depth personality assessment, subjects considered psychopathic and non-psychopathic, correlated in this study to individuals specified as having global personality disorder (GPD) and partial personality disorder (PPD), respectively. The sample is composed of a random sample of 56 male subjects referred to as forensic population, these being: 33 subjects identified as GPD and 23 subjects identified as PPD. All 56 subjects have been assessed on the light of clinical data, judicial records, the Rorschach Test and the PCL-R. This population was compared to 30 subjects referred to as non-criminal population, and who have also been assessed via the same instruments as the sample. The personality of both forensic population groups fulfills ICD-10 criteria for antisocial personality disorder, but differences in terms of their psychic dynamics and personality determinants can be clearly identified, which impacts upon their social behavior in different ways. The accurate identification of such subjects presents multiple implications to the forensic and penitentiary system, and may contribute to reduce recidivism rates as well as violence levels in the country. Validation of the instrument (PCL-R) and identification of the cut-off score for the psychopathic condition (GPD in our notation), for the sample drawn from the Brazilian forensic population has been conducted through the concurrent analysis of both instruments of assessment, resulting in a 23 cut-off score (CI = 21.61 to 24,05). The average value is 28,63 (CI= 26,78 to 30, 48). Sensitivity outcome is 84,8%. Specificity is 100%. The reliability rates found for both instruments were high (Kappa = 0.8735).

O propósito deste trabalho é investigar a natureza das pesquisas que tem como objeto o Transtorno de Personalidade Antissocial e o Comportamento Criminoso no Brasil. Partimos da hipótese de que nestas pesquisas há uma tendência a atribuir a fatores endógenos os motivos que fazem com que o crime seja cometido, excluindo a dimensão histórica. Centramo-nos na produção científica, pois entendemos que a ciência responde às necessidades objetivas de cada época e, sobretudo, pelo fato de que ela não é alheia aos processos postos em desenvolvimento pela totalidade social, sendo um elemento valioso para a compreensão da sociedade em que é produzida. Foram selecionados no Banco de Teses da CAPES os resumos de teses de doutorado e de dissertações de mestrado identificados a partir dos descritores Comportamento Criminoso, Transtorno de Personalidade Antissocial e Psicopatia. A amostra consistiu em 47 resumos, sendo nove teses de doutorado e 36 dissertações de mestrado. Destes 47 resumos, foram escolhidos dois para o estudo da pesquisa completa. O procedimento adotado foi a análise de conteúdo. Os resultados indicaram a existência de duas tendências importantes. A primeira, monadológica, demonstra que nestas pesquisas o crime e a criminalidade foram relacionados a fatores individuais. Implicada nesta tendência foi possível verificar que: a. o comportamento criminoso foi associado, frequentemente, a alterações anatômicas e/ou funcionais do cérebro; b. há uma tendência a associar o crime ao diagnóstico de Transtorno de Personalidade Antissocial; c. há o desenvolvimento e a validação de instrumentos voltados para a identificação de indivíduos supostamente predispostos a cometer crimes. A segunda tendência, menos expressiva numericamente, mas também importante, é a economicista. A centralidade destes trabalhos está na correlação entre problemas econômicos e o aumento ou diminuição nos índices de criminalidade. Nestes casos, a ênfase recai em aspectos microeconômicos, não havendo referência aos fatores estruturais do modo de produção. Também houve trabalhos que desenvolveram críticas vigorosas à tendência monadológica. Isto indica a existência de um potencial de resistência a ela. O referencial teórico-metodológico é a Teoria Crítica da Sociedade, particularmente os escritos de Theodor Adorno / Investigating the nature of researches that aims the Antisocial Personality Disorder and Criminal Behavior in Brazil is the scope of this study. We came from the hypothesis that there is a tendency in these studies which assign to endogenous factors the reasons for crimes to be committed, not including the historical dimension. We focused on scientific production because we understand that science responds to the objective needs of each epoch, and especially by the fact that it is not indifferent to the processes that are put into action by the social totality, being so a valuable element to understanding the society in which it is formed. PhD theses abstracts and MSc dissertations, identified from the descriptors Criminal Behavior, Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychopathy were selected in the CAPES Bank of Theses. The sample consisted of 47 abstracts, nine PhD theses and 36 MSc dissertations. Out of these 47 abstracts we have selected two for the study of full research. The procedure adopted was content analysis. The results pointed to the existence of two important tendencies. The first one, monadological, shows in those researches that crime and criminality were related to individual factors. Implicated in this tendency, it was also observed that: a. criminal behavior has been often associated with anatomical and/or functional changes in the brain; b. there is a tendency to associate crime to the diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder, c. there is the development and validation of instruments intended to identify individuals predisposed to supposedly commit crimes. The second tendency, less significant numerically, but also important, is the economistic. The centrality of these studies is in the correlation between economic problems and the increase or decrease in crime rates. In these cases, the emphasis is on microeconomic aspects, there is no reference to structural factors of the production mode. There have also been studies that developed vigorous criticism to the monadological tendency. It indicates the existence of a potential for resistance to it. The theoretical-methodological framework is the Critical Theory of Society, particularly the writings of Theodor Adorno

La psychopathie et le trouble de personnalité antisociale sont deux syndromes reliés qui ont été identifiés comme prédicteurs importants de comportements violents et de criminalité. Cependant, la recherche indique que les facteurs de la psychopathie centrés sur la personnalité ne sont pas des prédicteurs fiables de récidive violente chez les personnes atteintes de maladies mentales. Toutefois, peu d’études se sont centrées sur l’identification des facteurs associés au patron des antécédents criminels. Les 96 hommes de l’étude ont été déclarés non criminellement responsables en raison de troubles mentaux. Ils ont été évalués quant au trouble de la personnalité antisociale ainsi qu’à la psychopathie. Les dossiers criminels de la Gendarmerie Royale du Canada ont également été consultés afin de reconstituer l’histoire criminelle. Les résultats suggèrent que ni les traits de personnalité antisociaux, ni les facteurs de la psychopathie ne démontrent une validité prédictive incrémentielle les uns sur les autres quant au nombre ou à la sévérité des délits. La présence d’un grand nombre de traits antisociaux est associée à un plus grand nombre et à une plus importante sévérité d’actes criminels non-violents. Les résultats sont discutés en termes de l’utilité d’une classification du trouble de personnalité antisociale, et de la pertinence du construit de la psychopathie pour les personnes atteintes de maladies mentales graves. / Psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder are two related yet clinically distinct syndromes both coined as important predictors of violence and criminality. Among the mentally ill, there is increasing evidence that only the behavioral aspects of psychopathy are related to criminality. Studies have shown that the personality-oriented facets of psychopathy add little to the prediction of future violence among the mentally ill. However, few studies have sought to examine whether a lifetime of crime shows the same pattern. A total of 96 men who had been declared not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder participated in this study. Trained interviewers assessed antisocial personality and psychopathy among participants. Official RCMP criminal records were consulted in order to ascertain criminal history. Results suggest that neither antisocial personality disorder traits nor psychopathy facets evidenced incremental validity one over the other regarding a lifetime pattern of offending. A higher number of antisocial traits were related to a greater number and higher severity of non-violent offenses. Results are discussed with regards to the usefulness of the antisocial personality disorder classification, and the applicability of conceptual models of psychopathy to individuals with a severe mental illness.

Genetic factors underlying alcoholism, substance abuse, antisocial and violent behaviour, psychosis, schizophrenia and psychopathy are emerging to implicate dopaminergic and cannabinoid, but also monoaminergic and glutamatergic systems through the maze of promoter genes and polymorphisms. Candidate gene association studies suggest the involvement of a range of genes in different disorders of CNS structure and function. Indices of comorbidity both complicate the array of gene-involvement and provide a substrate of hazardous interactivity. The putative role of the serotonin transporter gene in affective-dissociative spectrum disorders presents both plausible genetic variation and complication of comorbidity. The position of genetic variation is further complicated through ethnic, contextual and social factors that provide geometric progressions in the comordity already underlying diagnostic obstacles. The concept of shared biological susceptibilty to two or more disorder conditions of comorbidity seems a recurring observation, e.g., bipolar disorder with alcoholism or schizophrenia with alcohol/substance abuse or diabetes with schizopsychotic disorder. Several lines of evidence seem to suggest that the factors influencing variation in one set of symptoms and those affecting one or more disorders are observed to a marked extent which ought to facilitate the search for susceptibility genes in comorbid brain disorders. Identification of regional genetic factors is awaited for a more compelling outline that ought eventually to lead to greater efficacy of symptom-disorder arrangements and an augmentation of current pharmacological treatment therapies.

Factors that confer predisposition and vulnerability for alcoholism and other substance abuse disorders may be described usefully within the gene-environment interplay framework. Thus, it is postulated that heritability provides a major contribution not only to alcohol but also to other substances of abuse. Studies of evoked potential amplitude reduction have provided a highly suitable and testable method for the assessment of both environmentally-determined and heritable characteristics pertaining to substance use and dependence. The different personal attributes that may co-exist with parental influence or exist in a shared, monozygotic relationship contribute to the final expression of addiction. In this connection, it appears that personality disorders are highly prevalent co-morbid conditions among addicted individuals, and, this co-morbidity is likely to be accounted for by multiple complex eti-ological relationships, not least in adolescent individuals. Co-morbidity associated with deficient executive functioning may be observed too in alcohol-related aggressiveness and crimes of violence. The successful intervention into alcohol dependence and craving brought about by baclofen in both human and animal studies elucidates glutamatergic mechanisms in alcoholism whereas the role of the dopamine transporter, in conjunction with both the noradrenergic and serotonergic transporters, are implicated in cocaine dependence and craving. The role of the cannabinoids in ontogeny through an influence upon the expression of key genes for the development of neurotransmitter systems must be considered. Finally, the particular form of behaviour/ characteristic outcome due to childhood circumstance may lie with biological, gene-based determinants, for example individual characteristics of monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity levels, thereby rendering simple predictive measures both redundant and misguiding.

This thesis investigates the relationship between social media and Cluster B Personality Disorders: Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Histrionic Personality Disorder. This research builds upon previous findings by examining specific negative social media motivations and behaviors, such as excessive use and negative motivations, in relation to Cluster B Personality Disorders. Participants completed the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD; Zanarini et al., 2005), The Short Dark Triad (Jones &Paulhus, 2014), Antisocial Process Screening Device (Frick & Hare, 2002), Self-Test Histrionic Personality Disorder (Olivardia, 2022), and Motivations for Social Media Use Scale (MSMU; Rodgers et al., 2020). These instruments assess callous-unemotional traits, narcissism, impulsivity, attention-seeking behaviors, erratic behaviors, and motivations for social media use. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between extensive social media use and higher tendencies toward Cluster B Personality Disorder traits, with specific social media motivations strongly linked to distinct aspects of these disorders. This study enhances understanding of the psychological correlates of excessive social media use.