Coexistence of Adhd and Psychopathy in Male Offenders

Background. Empirical studies on psychopathic personality disorders indicate a correlation between conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and the occurrence of criminal behavior later in life. The present study aims at the theoretical and empirical verification of an assumption appearing in the literature, that the abovementioned disorders and psychopathy coexist. Specifically, the author attempts to analyze the evidence for the coexistence of ADHD, CD and ODD in adults with psychopathic personality disorders, who have violated the law. Material and methods. 30 participants duly convicted of a crime and serving a prison sentence were subjected to self-report and psychiatric examinations. The study included only those persons who were diagnosed with antisocial or dissocial personality disorders, and their results in the Psy chopathy Checklist-Revision ranged from 30 to 40 points. Results. Persons diagnosed with psychopathy, in the early years of their development, had earlier been observed to have control disorders, especially in the form of conduct disorder. Conclusions. This study on persons with psychopathic personality disorder suggests that impulsivity and antisocial behavior predispose for the development of psychopathic personality disorders.