NCJ Number
192603
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: 2001 Pages: 374-382
Date Published
2001
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study assessed predictors of psychopathy in 79 male adolescents in a maximum-security facility as a result of adjudication.
Abstract
Clinical applications to psychopathy encompass downward extensions to adolescent populations. In alliance with clinical practice, several prominent researchers have formulated prediction models for adolescent psychopathy that include various forms of behavioral dysregulation (impulsivity, childhood hyperactivity, risk-taking and sensation-seeking, resistance to punishment, recreational drug use, and preference for multiple sexual experiences). The current study tested a sample of 79 male adolescents residing in the Gainesville State School, a maximum-security facility for adolescent offenders in Texas. The subjects were administered the Psychopathy Checklist, the BASC-Self-Report of Personality, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Adolescent Symptom Inventory-Youth Self-Report. In addition to these measures, the Texas Youth Commission files were reviewed for data regarding the current index offense and types of crimes committed in previous arrests. The primary analyses for the study evaluated psychopathy as a dimensional construct. The study found that impulsivity was the best predictor of both psychopathy and conduct problems. In addition, conduct-disordered symptoms were predicted mostly by impulsivity, with minor contributions from sensation-seeking and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) symptoms. Clinical implications are discussed, along with the limitations of this study and future research directions. 3 tables and 43 references