title: Identifying the cutoff score for the PCL-R scale (psychopathy checklist-revised) in a Brazilian forensic population.
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.
authors.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
authors.forename: Hilda Clotilde Penteado
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Morana
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arboleda-Flórez
authors.forename: Fernando Portela
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Câmara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007803:Language Arts; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology