The search for primary and secondary subtypes of callous-unemotional traits in detained boys.

This study examined the existence and validity of variants of callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Data were available for 309 detained boys (Mage = 16.96) who completed self-reports, experimental tasks, and were administered a diagnostic interview. Two different methods were used to differentiate between participants with different constellations of CU traits and anxiety. Using a simple cutoff approach, participants were assigned to four groups: low CU traits and low anxiety (n = 148), low CU traits and high anxiety (n = 69), high CU traits and low anxiety ("primary CU variant"; n = 68), and high CU traits and high anxiety ("secondary CU variant"; n = 24). Latent profile analyses arrived at three classes but failed to find a "secondary CU variant" class. Group comparisons that were based on the simple cutoff approach showed that youth who fell in the secondary (vs. primary) CU variant group presented more depressive symptoms and were less able to differentiate between emotions. These two groups did not significantly differ in any of the other 36 correlates (e.g., impulsivity, maltreatment, and treatment engagement). Only a few significant differences emerged between the two CU variant groups and youth characterized by low CU traits and high anxiety. Taken together, we found limited support for the existence and utility of CU variants among detained boys. Not only did the identification of the CU variants depend upon the method that was used, the two CU variant groups rarely were significantly different in theoretically important features. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).