Program & Abstract Book - EPFL Latsis Symposium 2009

EPFL Latsis Symposium 2009: Understanding Violence
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February 11-13 2009
ge t t i n g t h e p h e n o t y p e s r i g h t : th e
e s s e n t i a l i n g r e D i e n t t o u n D e r s t a n D i n g
a e t i o l o g i c a l m e c h a n i s m s a n D D e v e l o p i n g
e f f e c t i v e t r e a t m e n t s
Hodgins, Sheilagh
Institute of Psychiatry King’s College, University of London
UK
The population of individuals who as adults engage in persistent physical
violence towards others is not homogeneous. The available evidence suggests
that it includes at least three sub-groups. While all of the sub-groups
display an early-onset pattern of antisocial behaviour that remains stable
across the life-span, the sub-groups differ in behaviour, mental disorders,
personality traits, emotion processing, cognitive abilities, attentional processes,
and stress reactivity. These differences emerge at an early age and
the sub-groups appear to remain distinct from childhood through adulthood.
Yet, knowledge of the development of these sub-groups of individuals
who become persistent violent offenders is very limited. Consequently,
inadequate characterization of participants in investigations of genes that
confer vulnerability for persistent violent behaviour, of brain structure and
function, and in studies of the links between specific genes and brain structure
and function limits the meaningfulness of the results. Accurate characterization
of sub-groups of persistently violent individuals, at each developmental
stage, is necessary in order to elucidate the complex mechanisms
through the course of development that lead to an adult who persistently
engages in violent behaviour towards others. Without understanding these
developmental mechanisms, the establishment of effective prevention and
treatment programmes is not likely.