Executive functions impairment in incarcerated juvenile delinquents

Abstract Objective To assess frontal lobe dysfunction in incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two correction institutions in Cairo where 50 admitted juvenile delinquents (25 males & 25 females) were assessed and compared to 25 age matched healthy adolescents. Personal, socio-demographic and criminal histories were collected. Participants were subjected to Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised. Results Juvenile delinquents differed significantly from healthy adolescents: they exhibited executive dysfunction as they had higher scores in all items of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and lower scores in Wechsler subscales. They had lower verbal IQ scores than performance ones. Conclusion Delinquent adolescents admitted to correctional institutions had poorer cognitive functioning compared to apparently normal adolescents. JDs had lower verbal IQ than performance IQ scores. Education, occupation and socioeconomic status remained influential environmental factors.