Effects of nutritional supplements on aggression, rule-breaking, and psychopathology among young adult prisoners

Aggress Behav. 2010 Mar-Apr;36(2):117-26. doi: 10.1002/ab.20335.

Abstract

In an earlier study, improvement of dietary status with food supplements led to a reduction in antisocial behavior among prisoners. Based on these earlier findings, a study of the effects of food supplements on aggression, rule-breaking, and psychopathology was conducted among young Dutch prisoners. Two hundred and twenty-one young adult prisoners (mean age=21.0, range 18-25 years) received nutritional supplements containing vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids or placebos, over a period of 1-3 months. As in the earlier (British) study, reported incidents were significantly reduced (P=.017, one-tailed) in the active condition (n=115), as compared with placebo (n=106). Other assessments, however, revealed no significant reductions in aggressiveness or psychiatric symptoms. As the incidents reported concerned aggressive and rule-breaking behavior as observed by the prison staff, the results are considered to be promising. However, as no significant improvements were found in a number of other (self-reported) outcome measures, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Catchment Area, Health
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Humans
  • Juvenile Delinquency / psychology*
  • Juvenile Delinquency / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Prevalence
  • Prisoners / psychology*
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data*
  • Social Behavior Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Social Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult