NCJ Number
139903
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 677-689
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
To provide a fresh perspective on the problems involved in diagnosing antisocial personality disorder (APD), 250 adult nonprofessionals were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the factors that indicate this disorder.
Abstract
The research used findings of earlier studies that found that ratings by nonprofessionals assisted in simplifying and clarifying the diagnosis of depression and other mental disorders. The 250 volunteers were solicited through the research program at the Ontario Science Center. Using a 7-point scale, they rated each item on lists of possible diagnostic criteria. The four random sets of lists included child and adult diagnostic criteria from several standard instruments. The data were analyzed through principal components analysis. Results revealed four factors: (1) impaired relationships and deception, (2) aggressive behavior, (3) nonviolent delinquency, and (4) frequent sexual relationships that were not attributable to mental illness or drug abuse. These factors appear to be more closely allied with the Psychopathy Checklist and two new proposals for DSM-IV than with the current DSM-III-R model for diagnosis. Findings also indicated the need for research on subtypes of APD and on related disorders based on factors from prototypic methods and field trial data. Tables, footnotes, and 64 references