Understanding the structure of the Psychopathy Checklist – Revised

An exploration of methodological confusion

COOKE, DAVID J. PhD, FBPsS, FRSE
MICHIE, CHRISTINE BSc
SKEEM, JENNIFER PhD

Glasgow Caledonian University and Douglas Inch Centre, Glasgow, UK (COOKE)
Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK (MICHIE)
University of California, Irvine, California, USA (SKEEM)

Correspondence: Dr David J. Cooke, Forensic Psychology Services, Douglas Inch Centre, 2 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow G3 7UY, UK. Email [email protected]

Declaration of interest None.

Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

British Journal of Psychiatry 190:p s39-s50, May 2007.

Summary

Psychopathy is the key construct in the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) Programme. The Psychopathy Checklist - Revised is used as a primary means of selection for the programme. The Checklist confounds two distinct constructs - personality disorder and criminal behaviour. This confound is important both practically and theoretically. For example, under the criteria for DSPD it is necessary to demonstrate that personality disorder has a functional link with future risk of criminal behaviour. The confound has been exacerbated recently by claims that criminal behaviour is a core feature of psychopathic disorder. This contention is based on inappropriate analytical methods. In this paper we examine the source of this confound and illustrate how inappropriate methods can mislead.