Dataset Information

Does Traumatic Brain Injury Lead to Criminality? A Whole-Population Retrospective Cohort Study Using Linked Data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be a risk factor for criminal behaviour however multiple factors potentially confound the association.

Methods

Record linkage and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to examine the association between hospital-recorded TBI (n = 7,694) and subsequent first criminal conviction in a retrospective cohort matched 1:3 with 22,905 unaffected community controls and full-sibling controls (n = 2,397). Aboriginality, substance abuse, social disadvantage, and mental illness were included in analyses as potential confounders.

Results

In multivariable models, relative to general population controls, TBI was associated with any conviction (males: Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.58 (95% CI 1.46 to 1.72); females: HR = 1.52 (95% CI 1.28 to 1.81)); and similar Hazard Ratios were obtained for the sibling analyses in males (HR = 1.68 (95% CI 1.31-2.18)) and females (HR 1.27 (95% CI 0.71-2.29)). TBI was also associated with violent convictions relative to the general population, (males: HR = 1.65 (95% CI 1.42 to 1.92); females HR = 1.73 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.47)), and in analyses with sibling controls in men (HR = 1.89 (95% CI 1.20-3.00)), but not in women (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.29-1.81)).

Conclusion

The results support a modest causal link between TBI and criminality after comprehensive adjustment for confounding. Reducing the rate of TBI, a major public health imperative, might have benefits in terms of crime reduction.

SUBMITTER: Schofield PW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4501545 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Does Traumatic Brain Injury Lead to Criminality? A Whole-Population Retrospective Cohort Study Using Linked Data.

Schofield Peter W PW Malacova Eva E Preen David B DB D'Este Catherine C Tate Robyn R Reekie Joanne J Wand Handan H Butler Tony T

PloS one 20150714 7

<h4>Background</h4>Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be a risk factor for criminal behaviour however multiple factors potentially confound the association.<h4>Methods</h4>Record linkage and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to examine the association between hospital-recorded TBI (n = 7,694) and subsequent first criminal conviction in a retrospective cohort matched 1:3 with 22,905 unaffected community controls and full-sibling controls (n = 2,397). Aboriginality, substance ab ...[more]

PMID: 26172545

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Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for and the consequences (ie, substance use disorders (SUD), depression, personality traits) of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in young Swiss men.DesignThis is a three-wave cohort study. Risk factors were measured at baseline (2010-2012) and at follow-up 1 (FU1; 2012-2014), while the consequences and TBI were measured at follow-up 2 (FU2; 2016-2018).SettingSwitzerland.ParticipantsAll participants at FU2 (Mage=25.43, SD=1.25) of the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (N=4881 young Swiss men after listwise deletion).MeasuresThe outcomes measured were TBI, SUD (ie, alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, other illicit drugs), depression and personality traits (ie, sensation seeking, anxiety-neuroticism, sociability, aggression-hostility) at FU2. The predictors were previous TBI (lifetime TBI but not in the past 12 months at FU2), SUD, personality traits and sociodemographics (highest level of achieved education, age, linguistic region) measured at FU1.ResultsAt FU2, 3919 (80.3%) participants reported to never have had TBI, 102 (2.1%) have had TBI in the last 12 months (TBI new cases), and 860 (17.6%) have had TBI during their lifetime but not in the 12 months preceding FU2 (previous TBI). Low educational attainment (OR=3.93, 95% CI 2.10 to 7.36), depression (OR=2.87, 95% CI 1.35 to 6.11), nicotine dependence (OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.71), high sociability (OR=1.18, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.30), high aggression-hostility (OR=1.15, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.26) and high sensation seeking (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.68) at FU1 were significantly associated with TBI new cases at FU2. Previous TBI was significantly associated with nicotine dependence (OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.83), depression (OR=2.16, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.99) and aggression-hostility (B=0.14, 95% CI >0.00 to 0.28) at FU2.ConclusionLow educational attainment and depression are the most significant risk factors associated with increased odds of future TBI, while depression, nicotine dependence and high aggression-hostility are the main consequences of previous TBI. TBI should be considered an underlying factor in the treatment of depression, SUD or unfavourable personality profiles.

Dataset Information

Does Traumatic Brain Injury Lead to Criminality? A Whole-Population Retrospective Cohort Study Using Linked Data.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Does Traumatic Brain Injury Lead to Criminality? A Whole-Population Retrospective Cohort Study Using Linked Data.

Similar Datasets

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