Transcript Lecture 3: Clinical and Forensic Assessment of Psychopathy I
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY LECTURE 3
Clinical and Forensic Assessment of Psychopathy
Forensic Psychology 1
Recommended Reading
Gacono,
Psychopathy
Carl B. (2000),
Practitioners The Clinical Guide.
London: (Chapters 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13).
and Forensic
Lawrence
Assessment of
Erlbaum Associates
.
Howitt, Dennis), (2009)
3rd Edition.
, Introduction to Forensic and Criminal Psychology:
London: Pearson Prentice Hall – Chapter 20.
Millon, Theodore; Simonsen, Erik; Birket-Smith, Morten; and Davis, Roger D.
(1998),
Psychopathy: antisocial, criminal and violent behaviour.
New York: Guilford
.
(Reading: Chapters 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 10, 12, 27).
Articles:
Hare, Robert D. (1998).
The Hare PCL-R: Some issues concerning it's use and misuse
. Legal and Criminal Psychology. 3, 99-119.
Herpertz, Sabine and Sass, Henning (1997).
Psychopathy and antisocial syndromes
. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 10, 436-440.
2 Forensic Psychology
Aims of Lecture
Examine the link between mental illness and crime Describe what is meant by the term “psychopathy” and understand the difficulties associated with defining psychopathy Describe the usefulness of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist – Revised (PCL-R).
Examine the concept of assessing risk and recidivism in forensic populations.
3 Forensic Psychology
Mental Illness and Crime
Concept of Mental Illness is perceived in different ways between the professions of psychology and law. The media have an effect on the public perception of mental illness and crime.
Link et al (1992) –Sample of 500 never treated residents/mental patients in NYC. Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview – assessing mental illness symptoms.
Although patients reported higher levels of violence, age, gender and education level were a higher predictor of violent behaviour than psychotic symptoms.
4 Forensic Psychology
Mental Illness and Crime
Swanson (1990) – US study using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. While schizophrenia was associated with violence, substance abuse was a greater predictor in the likelihood of violent behaviour.
Hodgins (1997) Stockholm – 15,000 born in 1953 MEN - 32% with no mental illness criminals/ 50% of mentally ill criminal WOMEN - 6% with no mental illness criminals/ 19% of mentally ill criminal Why?
5 Forensic Psychology
History of Psychopathy
“We cannot treat, except empirically, what we do not understand and we cannot prevent what we do not comprehend”
Brittain (1970) Pinel (1800 ’s) “Manie Sans Delire” – insanity without a confusion of mind.
Patients engaged in impulsive and self damaging acts, despite the fact that their reasoning was intact and that they knew what they were doing was irrational.
6 Forensic Psychology
History of Psychopathy
Cleckley (1976) – “The Mask of Sanity” – Proposed that psychopaths present a convincing mask with superficial charm, good intelligence, etc, yet are impulsive, have poor judgment and lack remorse.
16 characteristics including interpersonal, affective, cognitive and behavioural characteristics irresponsible lifestyle.
associated with an impulsive,
7 Forensic Psychology
Cleckley’s Characteristics
Superficial Charm Absence of Delusions Absence of Nervousness Unreliability Lying Lack of Remorse Anti-social Behaviour Poor Judgment Egocentric Poor Reactions Lack of insight Unresponsiveness in interpersonal relations Alternative behaviour Threat of Suicide Promiscuous Lack of Life Plan Forensic Psychology 8
Terms
Antisocial Personality Disorder(ASPD) Sociopathy Psychopathy
(Terms used interchangeably in the literature) Sociopathy diagnosis in DSM I – sexual deviation, alcoholism and anti-social behaviour were features.
9 Forensic Psychology
Anti Social Personality Disorder
18 years Conduct Disorder before age 15 Violations of law Disregard for others/self Deceitfulness Impulsivity Irritable/aggressive Lack of Remorse
Forensic Psychology 10
Hare Psychopathy Checklist
PCL-R – 20 item 40 point scale completed with a semi-structured interview, and a review of independent and historical and contemporaneous data PCL-SV – 12 item scale
Factor 1 remorse.
– Interpersonal/affective features – callousness, lack of Factor 2 lifestyle.
– behavioural/affective features – socially deviant
11 Forensic Psychology
Hare Psychopathy Checklist
1.
Glibness/Superficial Charm 2.
Grandiose sense of self-worth 3.
Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom 4.
Pathological Lying 5.
Conning/Manipulative
Forensic Psychology 12
Hare Psychopathy Checklist
6.
Lack of remorse or Guilt 7.
Shallow Affect 8.
Callous/Lack of Empathy 9.
Parasitic Lifestyle 10.
Poor Behavioural Controls
Forensic Psychology 13
Hare Psychopathy Checklist
11.
Promiscuous Sexual Behaviour 12.
Early Behavioural Problems 13.
Lack of Realistic Long Term Goals 14.
Impulsivity 15.
Irresponsibility
Forensic Psychology 14
Hare Psychopathy Checklist
16.
Failure to accept Responsibility for Own Actions 17.
Many Short Term Marital Relationships 18.
Juvenile Delinquency 19.
Revocation of Conditional Release 20.
Criminal Versatility
Forensic Psychology 15
Anti Social Personality Disorder/Psychopathy
Behavioural Criteria in ASPD – behaviour that is observable and can be agreed on by clinicians, but Does not inform us about character Does not predict behaviour Does not suggest any specific type of treatment Most psychopaths will meet criteria for DSM ASPD but ASPD will not meet criteria for psychopathy 16 Forensic Psychology
Anti Social Personality Disorder/Psychopathy
Psychopathy – behavioural criteria and personality traits
APA (1994) – forensic population study:
80% met criteria for ASPD 15-25% met criteria for psychopath.
Quinsey, Rice & Harris follow-up study of offenders(1995):
Psychopath – 80% committed offences Non-psychopath – 20% committed violent offences Forensic Psychology 17
Administration of PCL-R
Historical information Record review Clinical Interview Greater than or equal to 30 psychopath Over 32.5
– likely to be violent .
Forensic Psychology 18