[Can psychopathy be detected psychophysiologically?]

Wien Med Wochenschr. 2015 Aug;165(15-16):304-9. doi: 10.1007/s10354-015-0371-8. Epub 2015 Aug 7.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine whether pupillometry was able to identify and differentiate psychopathic personality traits in criminally responsible mentally disordered offenders (§ 21/2 StGB). Psychopathic disorder has not only behavioral, but also psychophysiological correlates, which may be evaluated by pupillometry. This might make it possible to diagnose psychopathy by means of a non-invasive method and in a further step to adapt therapeutic measures accordingly. Psychopathic behavior and personality traits were identified by means of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and offenders were divided into 4 groups with PCL-R scores of 0-10, 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40, respectively. Pupillometry makes it possible to objectively measure amplitudes of pupillary oscillations, which may serve as an indicator of central nervous activation/deactivation. The study at hand showed that the higher the PCL-R values, the smaller the amplitudes. Thus, it can be concluded that central nervous activation decreases with higher PCL-R values and psychopathy is associated with central nervous deactivation.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology
  • Arousal / physiology*
  • Central Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Checklist
  • Comorbidity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Observer Variation
  • Prisoners / psychology*
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Psychotic Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology
  • Reflex, Pupillary / physiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results