A Rorschach comparison of psychopathic and nonpsychopathic conduct disordered adolescents.
Forty-eight male subjects who met the DSM-IV (APA, 1994) criteria for conduct disorder (CD) were assessed for psychopathy level using a modified version of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R, Forth, Hart, & Hare, 1990). Rorschach variables associated with self-perception, affects, and object relations, early behavioral problems and history of violence were compared between psychopathic and nonpsychopathic CD adolescents. Psychopathic CD subjects were significantly more self-centered and violent than nonpsychopathic CD subjects. Decreased attachment and anxiety were found in both CD groups. Our study adds empirical support to the heterogeneity noted among CD adolescents (PCL-R), supports the utility of the Rorschach for detecting individual differences among CD subjects, and extends the empirical work of Gacono and Meloy (1994) to adolescent psychopathy.
Smith
A M
AM
California Medical Facility, Vacaville 95696, USA.
Gacono
C B
CB
Kaufman
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012392:Rorschach Test; D012649:Self Concept; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*