Executive functioning in antisocial behavior: A multi-level systematic meta-analysis

Clinical Psychology Review, vol. 109, pp. 102408

Abstract

Neurobiological information - including executive functioning - is increasingly relevant for forensic clinical practice, as well as for the criminal justice system. Previous meta-analyses report that antisocial populations show impaired performance on executive functioning tasks, but these meta-analyses are outdated, have limitations in their methodological approach, and are therefore in need of an update. The current multi-level meta-analysis including 133 studies (2008-2023) confirms impaired performance in executive functioning (d=.42), but studies are heterogeneous. Several moderator analyses showed that neuropsychological test used, type of executive function component, and control group characteristics moderated the overall effect. Specifically, matching psychiatric problems in the non-antisocial control group eliminated any differences in executive functioning between groups. No moderation effects were found for assessment quality, hot or cold executive functions, and various population characteristics. These results could indicate that the assessment of executive functioning in antisocial populations may be less relevant for recidivism risk assessment than thought, although this should first be assessed in prospective longitudinal studies. Executive functioning could potentially be used to identify or screen for individuals with certain treatment needs or be used as a responsivity factor, especially in disorders which are often underdiagnosed in criminal justice settings.

Authors 2

1. Jochem Milan Jansen corresponding Aachen Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology Faculty of Law, Leiden University

   Leiden University · Arkin

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Criminal Law & Criminology, Faculty of Law, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands; Inforsa, Arkin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.m.jansen@law.leidenuniv.nl

   Inforsa, Arkin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   Institute for Criminal Law & Criminology, Faculty of Law, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

2. Melanie Elisabeth Franse Aachen Institute of Education and Child Studies Faculty of Social Sciences

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Netherlands Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Science and Education, Herman Gorterstraat 5, 3511EW Utrecht, Netherlands; Institute of Education and Child Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333AK Leiden, Netherlands

   Institute of Education and Child Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University

   Netherlands Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Science and Education