Identifying the cutoff score for the PCL-R scale (psychopathy checklist-revised) in a Brazilian forensic population.
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.
Morana
Hilda Clotilde Penteado
HC
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
Arboleda-Flórez
Julio
J
Câmara
Fernando Portela
FP
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