NCJ Number
212832
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 175-183
Date Published
February 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This comparative analysis examined whether adolescent patients with serious conduct and substance problems (CSP) would exhibit risk-taking behaviors in new situations absent peer pressure, intoxication, or prior learning.
Abstract
Main findings indicated that youths with serious CPS took significantly more risks with the assessment instrument, the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), than did control subjects. Assessment with BART also revealed that patients have an initial response propensity to exhibit greater risk taking behaviors than controls, demonstrated by their willingness to take more risks in new situations. Contrary to expectations, patients were also observed to have slower response times, perhaps offering evidence against impulsivity in their risk taking behavior. Participants were 20 adolescent patients in treatment for conduct disorder and substance use disorder and 20 controls; all participants had been substance free for at least 7 days prior to testing. Methodology involved the use of BART, in which a mouse press inflates a computerized balloon image, with each press earning 1 cent. Thirty trials contained balloons that popped at varying sizes; earnings from popped balloons had to be returned whereas a “collect” response saved earnings and advanced the participant to the next balloon. In addition to the BART assessment, participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring their perceptions of risk, intelligence, aggressive behavior, and clinically relevant psychological disorders. Clinical implications of the findings are offered and include the possibility of using BART in studies of brain imagining, genetics, and intoxication effects after BART has been subjected to further validation. Tables, figures, references