The impact of psychopathy on violence among the household population of Great Britain.
BACKGROUND
The public health impact of psychopathy on violence has not previously been measured in the general population.


METHODS
Psychopathy was measured using the Psychopathy Checklist:Screening Version (PCL:SV) in adults 16-74 years (n = 638) in households in England, Scotland and Wales in a two-phase survey which included self-reported measures of violence.


RESULTS
Participants with PCL:SV scores 11 or above demonstrated a prevalence of 2.1% (95% CI 1.2, 3.8) but accounted for 18.7% of violent incidents, a population-attributable risk of 16.6%, and demonstrated an exponential rise in reported violent incidents. Psychopathic traits correlated with victim injury, multiple victim subtypes and locations.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychopathy makes a substantial impact on violence among the general population despite a low prevalence. Explanations of this association include interpersonal difficulties due to psychopathic traits, fearlessness, thrill seeking, and antisocial lifestyle, but not impulsivity independent of antisocial lifestyle.
Coid
Jeremy
J
Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey House, 61 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7BE, UK. j.w.coid@qmul.ac.uk
Yang
Min
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D057189:Checklist; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology