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Casenote assessment of psychopathy in a high security hospital
Author(s) -
Reiss David,
Leese Morven,
Meux Clive,
Grubin Don
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
criminal behaviour and mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1471-2857
pISSN - 0957-9664
DOI - 10.1002/cbm.367
Subject(s) - psychopathy checklist , psychopathy , checklist , reliability (semiconductor) , sample (material) , psychology , population , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , poison control , injury prevention , antisocial personality disorder , social psychology , personality , medical emergency , environmental health , power (physics) , physics , chemistry , chromatography , quantum mechanics , cognitive psychology
There is now a large amount of data demonstrating the internal reliability and construct validity of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL/PCL‐R) when used in the assessment of psychopathy in male forensic populations. It has well‐established psychometric properties when scored following a review of collateral information and a subsequent interview. However, its internal reliability and factor structure, when casenote information alone has been used, have not been examined outside North America. Method A sample of 89 patients from a British high security hospital, with the legal classification of psychopathic disorder, was scored retrospectively on the PCL‐R from their medical files only. The psychometric properties of the PCL‐R were analysed. Results The PCL‐R ratings showed a high level of internal reliability. The factor structure was very similar to that found in Hare's North American sample of forensic psychiatric patients. Discussion The findings support the application of the PCL‐R, when scored using existing file data alone, to a British high security hospital population. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd.