Comparison between the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality in a representative sample of Spanish prison inmates

AbstractFor the past three and a half decades, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and the self-report Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R) have been the standard measures for the diagnosis of psychopathy. Technological approaches can enhance these diagnostic methodologies. The purpose of this paper is to present a state-of-the-art review of various technological approaches for spotting psychopathy, such as electroencephalogram (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and other measures. Results of EEG event-related potential (ERP) experiments support the theory that impaired amygdala function may be responsible for abnormal fear processing in psychopathy, which can ultimately manifest as psychopathic traits, as outlined by the PCL-R or PPI-R. Imaging studies, in general, point to reduced fear processing capabilities in psychopathic individuals. While the human element, introduced through researcher/participant interactions, can be argued as unequivocally necessary for diagnosis, these purely objective technological approaches have proven to be useful in conjunction with the subjective interviewing and questionnaire methods for differentiating psychopaths from non-psychopaths. Furthermore, these technologies are more robust than behavioral measures, which have been shown to fail.

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Psychopathy in a Multiethnic World: Investigating Multiple Measures of Psychopathy in Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian Offenders

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191116639374 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 206-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dylan T. Gatner ◽

Adam J. E. Blanchard ◽

Kevin S. Douglas ◽

Scott O. Lilienfeld ◽

John F. Edens

Keyword(s):

African Americans ◽

The United States ◽

Self Report ◽

Psychopathic Personality ◽

Cultural Groups ◽

Psychopathy Checklist ◽

Secondary Psychopathy ◽

Psychopathic Personality Inventory ◽

Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽

Primary And Secondary Psychopathy

Despite the forensic relevance of psychopathy and the overrepresentation of Hispanics in the United States’ criminal justice system, these two issues remain underexplored, particularly with self-report measures of psychopathy. We investigated the criterion validity of three psychopathy measures among African Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics in a sample of 1,742 offenders. More similarity than dissimilarity emerged across groups. The factor structures of psychopathy measures among Hispanic offenders were consistent with previous findings. Few significant differences emerged between Hispanic and Caucasian offenders, with most differences emerging between African Americans and the other ethnic groups. In such instances, the correlates of psychopathy were typically weaker for African Americans. The Psychopathy Checklist–Revised yielded fewer psychopathy × ethnicity interactions than the Psychopathic Personality Inventory and Levenson Primary and Secondary Psychopathy Scales. Overall, these psychopathy measures showed reasonable validity across these cultural groups.

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Psychometric properties of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in a representative sample of Canadian federal offenders.

Law and Human Behavior ◽

10.1037/lhb0000174 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 136-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jennifer E. Storey ◽

Stephen D. Hart ◽

David J. Cooke ◽

Christine Michie

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Federal Offenders ◽

Psychopathy Checklist ◽

Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽

Hare Psychopathy Checklist

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Psychopathy and Violent Reoffending in German-Speaking Countries

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000178 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 117-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Andreas Mokros ◽

Knut Vohs ◽

Elmar Habermeyer

Keyword(s):

False Positive ◽

False Negative ◽

Psychopathic Personality ◽

Assessment Instruments ◽

Total N ◽

Psychopathy Checklist ◽

Violent Offense ◽

Violent Offending ◽

Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽

German Speaking

The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and its screening version, the PCL:SV, are clinical assessment instruments for the observer rating of psychopathic personality in offenders. Given the link between PCL-R/SV total scores and violent offending, these instruments have been incorporated into various risk assessment protocols in forensic psychology. The purpose of the present study was to examine the predictive validity of the PCL-R/SV instruments in German-speaking countries. We collated data from 11 published studies (total-N = 2,412 offenders). Based on suitable diagnostic cutscores for prototypical psychopathy, the proportions of true-positive and false-positive cases with respect to violent reoffending were compared. Overall, sensitivity was estimated at 27% and specificity at 88% for the PCL-R (or at 28% and 90% for the PCL:SV, respectively). At critical score levels, the odds for violent offense recidivism were more than two times higher than at subcritical levels for both instruments. A decision-theory analysis suggested that the implicit utility of false-positive risk assessments was about halfway between the minimal utility of false-negative assessments and the maximal utility of correct assessments. Both the PCL-R and its screening version are viable instruments for the prediction of violent offense recidivism in German-speaking countries.

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Psychometric Properties in Forensic Application of the Screening Version of the Psychopathy Checklist

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x17719289 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (7) ◽

pp. 1869-1887 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tamsin Higgs ◽

Ruth J. Tully ◽

Kevin D. Browne

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Short Form ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Psychopathic Personality ◽

Community Settings ◽

Forensic Application ◽

Psychopathy Checklist ◽

Forensic Samples ◽

Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽

Legal Contexts

The Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL: SV) is a short form of the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), an expert-rated assessment that measures psychopathic personality traits in research, clinical, and community settings. The PCL-R is an extensively relied upon tool in psycho-legal contexts. The screening version is also widely used; however, it has received far less empirical attention than the PCL-R. This review examines the psychometric properties of the PCL: SV, specifically in relation to forensic samples, and evaluates its comparability with the full PCL-R. Previously reported similarity in the reliability and validity of the PCL: SV as established for the PCL-R was supported through further testing in forensic samples. However, limitations in terms of available normative data are highlighted, and the review engages with wider debate concerning the measurement of psychopathy.

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