TY - JOUR PY - 1996// TI - Executive cognitive functioning predicts reactive aggression in boys at high risk for substance abuse: a prospective study JO - Alcoholism: clinical and experimental research A1 - Giancola, Peter R. A1 - Moss, H. B. A1 - Martin, C. S. A1 - Kirisci, L. A1 - Tarter, R. E. SP - 740 EP - 744 VL - 20 IS - 4 N2 - This study assessed the ability of executive cognitive functioning (ECF) to predict reactive aggression in boys at high and low risk for substance abuse using a 2-year prospective design. ECF is defined as the self-regulation of goal-directed behavior. Reactive aggression involves impulsive hostile reactions committed with little forethought. ECF was measured using five neuropsychological tests in 198 10- to 12-year-old boys with (SA+) and without (SA-) a paternal history of substance abuse/dependence. Reactive aggression was measured, 2 years later, using a composite index of items derived from two self-report measures. It was hypothesized that ECF would predict reactive aggression, and that this relation would be stronger for the SA+ compared with the SA- boys. SA+ subjects demonstrated lower ECF scores and higher reactive aggression scores, compared with SA- controls. ECF predicted reactive aggression in the SA+ group (beta = 0.37, p = 0.001), but not in the SA- group (beta = 0.09, p = NS). This suggests that compromised ECF may be a risk factor for reactive aggression in SA+ youth. The hypothesis that the relation between ECF and reactive aggression is a manifestation of a mild dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex is discussed.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0145-6008 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -