Psychopathic Expression From Early to Late Adulthood: An Item Response Theory Analysis of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised

Several investigators have assessed the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) for invariance across offender ethnicities and in correctional and forensic-psychiatric contexts. Yet we do not know whether, or to what extent, item properties among male offenders vary throughout adulthood. With a combined sample of PCL-R data on offenders from Canada and the United States (N = 4,820), we measured item properties for offenders in age groups of Early (18-30 years old), Middle (31-49 years old), and Late (50+ years old) adulthood. Nine items showed differential item functioning across age group comparisons. Among the Early group, the PCL-R Interpersonal and Affective traits were most informative for measuring the latent trait of psychopathy. Among the Late group, the PCL-R Lifestyle and Antisocial items were most informative for the latent trait. These differences in item information illustrate how psychopathy manifests in male offenders throughout adulthood.

Cross-Validation Study Using Item Response Theory

The Health-Related Quality of Life for Eating Disorder–Short questionnaire is one of the most suitable existing instruments for measuring quality of life in patients with eating disorders. The objective of the study was to evaluate its reliability, validity, and responsiveness in a cohort of 377 patients. A comprehensive validation process was performed, including confirmatory factor analysis and a graded response model, and assessments of reliability and responsiveness at 1 year of follow-up. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two second-order latent traits, social maladjustment, and mental health and functionality. The graded response model results showed that all items were good for discriminating their respective latent traits. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were high, and responsiveness parameters showed moderate changes. In conclusion, this short questionnaire has good psychometric properties. Its simplicity and ease of application further enhance its acceptability and usefulness in clinical research and trials, as well as in routine practice.

Intelligent diagnosing of intellectual disabilities in offenders: food for thought

Research on offenders with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in the criminal justice arena is on the rise, reflected by a growing number of relevant publications each year. However, there is a long recognized methodological problem that hampers the comparability of empirical studies and that raises doubts about the accuracy of prevalence rates, comorbidities, and various correlates and characteristics. In this paper we will argue that the crux of the problem can, on the one hand, be found in the plurality of assessment methods for intelligence and adaptive functioning, which are not all sufficiently reliable and valid. On the other hand, assessment of IQ in criminal justice and mental health-related areas appears to be informed more by practical aspects and needs rather than grounded in a solid theoretical model. Hence, we suggest that the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of intelligence has potential value in this regard, and deserves a closer look. Finally, we will discuss its incorporation into, and possible implications for, criminal justice practice and future study designs.

People with intellectual disability who offend or are involved with the criminal justice system

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review assesses the impact of recent research on the field of offenders with intellectual disabilities. Research includes work on prevalence, developments in appropriate assessments and investigations into the effectiveness of treatment procedures.

RECENT FINDINGS

Methodological difficulties continued to beset studies on prevalence, with estimates ranging between 2 and 10% of the offender population having intellectual disabilities. Research on risk assessment has developed quickly in the last 7 years and current studies establish both the framework for assessment and new instruments that have been shown to predict offending incidents. There have been a number of promising studies on sex offender treatment and on the treatment of issues related to general offending. These studies continue to evaluate treatment progress in terms of improvements in behaviour, cognitive distortions and reductions of offending. One notable study had targeted reductions in sexual deviancy. With two exceptions, the main drawback in treatment studies continues to be the lack of control conditions.

SUMMARY

These research studies will aid clinicians in the implementation of the assessment reviews and treatment programs for offenders with intellectual disabilities.

Capturing the psychopathic female: a prototypicality analysis of the comprehensive assessment of psychopathic personality (CAPP) across gender

Psychopathy in women has been subject to little systematic investigation; no coherent conceptualization of the disorder in women exists. Previous research is constrained by the reliance both on a male conceptualization of psychopathy and on assessment instruments developed, and primarily validated, with men. This study utilized a newly developed, broad, personality-based, and gender-sensitive lexical model of psychopathy, the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP). Prototypical analysis was used to explore gender differences in the construct and the content validity of the CAPP model across gender. Symptoms were rated by international mental health professionals (N = 132). The findings support the content validity of the CAPP across gender and suggest that - at symptom and domain levels - psychopathic men and women have key similarities, but also that important gender differences exists. This has implications for the assessment of psychopathy in women, and has relevance for the proposed revision of diagnostic criteria for personality disorders.