title: Are self-report measures of adaptive functioning appropriate for those high in psychopathic traits?
abstract: There is ongoing debate about the methods that evaluators should use to assess the adaptive functioning of an individual in an Atkins claim, including the appropriateness of using self-report measures and extent to which adaptive functioning measures are valid for persons with a history of violent offending. This study examined whether offenders' self-report adaptive functioning scores tended to decrease as their level of psychopathic traits increased. Eighty-five male felony probationers completed the self-report version of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System - II (ABAS-II: Harrison & Oakland, 2003), the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R: Lilienfeld & Widows, 2005), and a brief intelligence screening measure. ABAS-II composite scores were negatively correlated with PPI-R Self-Centered Impulsivity and Coldheartedness scores, but positively correlated with Fearless Dominance scores. These relationships appeared to be due, in part, to over-reporting symptoms of impairment across measures, suggesting that scores on self-report adaptive functioning measures may be especially susceptible to feigning.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Box 2447, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Young-Lundquist
authors.forename: Marcus T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Boccaccini
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simpler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D055815:Young Adult