Psychological Mechanisms of Behavioral Dysregulation

Study Summary

This study is directed toward a better understanding of how the brain regulates emotions and social and antisocial behavior. It will look at the use of the orbital frontal cortex and amygdala of the brain. Brain changes are involved in solving conflicts and the feelings that such conflicts produce. Conflicts may occur with other people or with general social rules. The researchers' expectations are that the findings will be useful in developing therapies that may improve people's ability to solve social conflicts and reduce antisocial behavior. Adults ages 20 to 50 years of age with psychopathy and a second set of comparison adults, all of whom have been released from the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, may be eligible for this study. The neurocognitive component of the study, the one pertaining to performance of various tasks, will involve 20 adults with psychopathy and 20 comparison adults. The neuroimaging component, in which a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is used, will involve 18 adults and 18 comparison adults. Two visits by participants will be entailed. At the first visit, patients will undergo the following procedures and tests: * Physical examination * Test of vital signs, lying and standing. * Electrocardiogram. * Collection of blood for chemistry and hematology. * Urinalysis and liver function tests. * Screen for HIV and hepatitis. * Pregnancy test, if applicable, at the first visit and at all further visits. Depending on the group to which they are assigned, at the second visit, patients will undergo an MRI scan or take part in a variety of computer-based tasks to measure different forms of thinking skills, emotional responses, and decision making. During the MRI scan, patients will lie still on a table that will slide into the enclosed tunnel of the MRI scanner. They will be asked to lie as still as possible. As the scanner takes pictures, patients will hear knocking or beeping sounds, and they will wear earplugs to reduce the noise.