Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Neuropsychological assessment information is being increasingly utilized by the judicial system, and neuropsychological assessment can uniquely contribute to psycho-legal issues posed in the juvenile justice system above and beyond traditional psychological assessment. Justice-involved (JI) youth experience disproportionately high rates of neuropsychological deficits, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) when compared to their same-age peers. However, few studies examining neuropsychological deficits within JI youth have accounted for these comorbidities. Further, no studies have compared JI youth populations to existing normative data, despite acknowledgements that JI adults represent unique neuropsychological populations. The purpose of this study was to compare a sample of 41 JI youth to existing neuropsychological normative data. Additionally, the study examined the relation between neuropsychological functioning, ACEs, and TBI as well as the relation between neuropsychological assessment and risk for recidivism. It was hypothesized that: (a) JI youth would exhibit significantly greater neuropsychological deficits than existing age-based normative data and that these differences would be clinically meaningful; (b) JI youth with ACE or TBI history would exhibit greater neuropsychological dysfunction than JI youth without these comorbidities, and ACE/TBI status and neuropsychological dysfunction would be associated with school problems; and (c) neuropsychological deficits would be associated with higher risk level. Neuropsychological deficits in JI youth were apparent across a variety of domains when compared to existing normative data, at both statistically significant and clinically meaningful levels. Contrary to predictions, neither ACE nor TBI status was associated with neuropsychological functioning, and these variables did not meaningfully contribute to academic problems. Lastly, contrary to hypothesized, better verbal letter fluency was associated with higher risk for recidivism, and no other domains of neuropsychological functioning were associated with risk for recidivism. Overall, the current study provides evidence that JI youth may represent a distinct population in regard to neuropsychological functioning. However, neuropsychological functioning and common comorbidities may not be helpful in understanding risk for recidivism or school problems, respectively.
Author: Kelsey A. Maloney
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3202124423