Understanding processing speed weaknesses among pedophilic child molesters: response style vs. neuropathology.

Research shows that pedophilic (PED) child molesters exhibit slower performance speed and greater performance accuracy when compared to nonpedophilic (N-PED) child molesters or other criminal and noncriminal controls. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether these differences reflect a slow/deliberate response style among PEDS (as we have previously hypothesized; Eastvold, Suchy, & Strassberg, 2011; Suchy, Whittaker, Strassberg, & Eastvold, 2009a, 2009b), or a fundamental neuropathological weakness in processing speed. Data came from a larger study examining neurocognition among sex offenders.

Exaggerated reaction to novelty as a subclinical consequence of mild traumatic brain injury.

Objectives: To evaluate exaggerated reaction to novelty as a behavioural marker of sub-clinical cognitive dysfunction in individuals with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Background And Hypothesis: A sub-set of individuals who sustain mTBIs report persistent cognitive difficulties despite normal performance on traditional neuropsychological measures. Evidence of subtle neuroimaging abnormalities following mTBI lends support to such subjective complaints.

Psychopathy among pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters.

Objective: Among men who commit sexual offenses against children, at least 2 distinct groups can be identified on the basis of the age of the primary targets of their sexual interest; pedophiles and nonpedophiles.

Method: In the present report, across 2 independent samples of both types of child molesters as well as controls, a total of 104 men (53 pedophilic and 51 nonpedophilic) who had sexually offended against a child age 13 or younger were compared to each other (and to 49 non-sex offender controls) on psychopathy as assessed by the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI).

Results: In both samples of child molesters, the nonpedophiles scored as significantly more psychopathic than the pedophiles.

Does a third party observer affect neuropsychological test performance? It depends.

This study is a meta-analysis of available literature examining the effect of an observer on cognitive task performance. Of the 210 identified relevant articles, 62 met inclusion criteria yielding a final sample with 4405 individuals (2496 observed cases, 1909 not observed). The overall effect size was significant (d=-0.

The differential contributions of posttraumatic amnesia duration and time since injury in prediction of functional outcomes following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To examine the relative contributions of preinjury, injury severity, and acute postinjury variables in predicting outcomes at 1 year following moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Four Veterans Affairs Medical Center acute inpatient rehabilitation programs.