CRIMINALITY AND PSYCHOPATHY AS RELATED TO THYROID-ACTIVITY IN FORMER JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

Levels of triiodothyronine (T-3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) , psychopathy-related personality traits and criminality from the age of 15 years onward were examined in 70 former juvenile delinquents and 35 control subjects aged 38-46 years. T-3 levels were significantly a ssociated with criminality but not with psychopathy-related personalit y traits. TSH levels were not related to any of these variables. Juven ile delinquents who displayed persistent criminal behaviour were found to have higher mean T-3 levels than juvenile delinquents who did not display criminality in adulthood and non-criminal controls. Former juv enile delinquents with T-3 levels above the mean level found in the co ntrols were registered for criminality 3.8 times more often than juven ile delinquents with T-3 levels below the mean level found in the cont rol group. The results are discussed in terms of elevated T-3 levels r epresenting a compensatory or stress phenomenon for low social adaptiv e ability of individuals who display persistent criminal behaviour.