Psychopathology, Psychosocial Characteristics, and Family Environment in Juvenile Delinquents

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the records of juvenile delinquents with regard to family psycho-pathology, familial violence and alcohol abuse, organic brain dysfunctions, and psychiatric disorders. Methods: The sample characteristics and results of a number of psychometric tests of 91 male juvenile delinquents were analyzed. Results: The analysis showed a high rate of psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder (DSM-IV 301.83), social phobia (DSM-IV 300.23), alcohol dependence (DSM-IV 291.9), organic brain dysfunctions, low intelligence quotients and behavior problems (including impulsive and aggressive behavior. Also, the present study con-firmed previous findings of a grossly disturbed childhood environment in juvenile delinquents. Risk factors included high rates of parents ’ alcohol abuse, criminality, low educational level, and neglect and physical abuse of the children. The etiology of juvenile delinquency seems to be multifactorial, while both environmental and organic/hereditary factors seem to contribute to the behavioral problems. Conclusions: Interventions should include psychological measures to correct delinquency, psychotherapy (including family therapy programs), treatment of alcohol problems, special treatment of learning disabilities as well as psychopharma-cological treatment (German J Psychiatry 2003; 6: 30-32