Citation

Morana HC, Arboleda-Flórez J, Câmara FP. Forensic Sci. Int. 2005; 147(1): 1-8.

Affiliation

Institute of Psychiatry, São Paulo University, Member of the WPA Executive Committee on Personality Disorder, Rua Marquês de Paranaguá. 36, ap. 62, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01303-050, Brazil. hildacpm@uol.com.br

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.03.019

PMID

15541584

Abstract

This study introduces a Portuguese-language version of psychopathy checklist-revised (PCL-R) [Harv. Mental Health Lett. 12 (1995) 4] in the Brazilian penitentiary system. Hare's scale is used extensively in many other countries. In a forensic population sample of 56 male subjects classified as psychopaths and non-psychopaths [Manual for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, Multi-Health System, Toronto, 1991], 33 correlated to global personality disorder (GPD) and 23 to partial personality disorder (PPD), respectively, subtypes of antisocial personality disorder [Manual for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, Multi-Health System, Toronto, 1991]. Subjects were evaluated through psychiatric and neurological examinations, review of judicial records, Rorschach and PCL-R. A control group of 30 subjects without criminological or psychiatric history was also evaluated with the same instruments. PCL-R validation and identification of cutoff score for Psychopathy (GPD group) was assessed through the concurrent use of the Rorschach. PCL-R cutoff score for the Brazilian population was set at 23. Sensitivity was determined at 84.8%, and reliability was high (Kappa index = 0.87). GPD individuals were characterized as clearly psychopathic according to PCL-R criteria while PPD individuals can only be considered mildly psychopathic, with better chance of rehabilitation.

Language: en