Identifying the cutoff score for the PCL-R scale (psychopathy checklist-revised) in a Brazilian forensic population

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 147; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Morana, Hilda Clotilde Penteado, Arboleda-Flórez, Julio, Câmara, Fernando Portela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 06-01-2005; Elsevier; The Lancet Publishing Group, a division of Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aggression - psychology; Agreements; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Antisocial personality disorder; Antisocial Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Antisocial Personality Disorder - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Confidence intervals; Criminals; Educational Status; Epilepsy - epidemiology; Forensic Psychiatry; Forensic sciences; General aspects; Homicide - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Language Arts; Male; Marital Status - statistics & numerical data; Medical sciences; Neurologic Examination; Personality disorders; Prisoners; Prisoners - psychology; Psychological aspects; Psychological Tests; Psychopaths; Psychopathy; Psychopathy checklist-revised (PCL-R); Rape - statistics & numerical data; Recidivism; Recidivists; Rehabilitation of criminals; Reproducibility of Results; Rorschach test; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sociopathic personality; Standard deviation; Violent crime; Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology; South America; Brazil; America; Psychopathy; Antisocial personality disorder; Rorschach test; Psychopathy checklist-revised (PCL-R); Human; Forensic science; Checklist; Population; Forensic aspect; Identification; Social behavior disorder
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.03.019

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.