Psychopathy Diagnosis and Implications for Treatment

¶ … Psychopathy: diagnosis and implications for treatment Medical research has advanced to such an extent as to allow diseases that would have in the past been considered without a medical cure to be nowadays a limited challenge in the face of new technologies, techniques, and methods of treatment. Unfortunately some of the most difficult to cure diseases are those related to the nervous system and of physiological nature.

One such case is psychopathy, a complex of states of mind and attitudes that transform the individual in particular degrees of sanity or insanity. There have been numerous articles and research project conducted on this subject both to try to determine the nature of psychopathy as well as to provide different types of solutions for curing its manifestations and finding out the root causes of psychopathy. One such study is the one concluded by Mairead Dolan and Michael Doyle from the University of Manchester, UK.

The article called "Psychopathy: diagnosis and implications for treatment" appeared in the "Psychiatry," volume 6, Issue 10 in October 2007 deals with the description of the construction of psychopathy, with certain definitions and causalities, as well as study cases to prove the lack of efficiency in terms of medical treatment as a result of deep rooted causes that cannot be dealt with individually.

The purpose of the article is on the one hand to develop on this subject various theories related to study cases combined with literature reviews from specialized sources, and on the other hand to advise on necessary and possible steps to improve the treatment of this condition with due regard for the underlining causes that relate to behavior and willingness to accept treatment.

The point of the article however is related to the explaining the means through which this complex psychological construct determines a resistance to regular treatment and more studies need to be conducted in order to better assess the means through which the causes can be tackled. The data used by the authors to support their arguments include a historical background on the psychological construction in order to point out the background in terms of the research conducted since the 19th century.

The backbone of the research however for this article is represented by the clinical investigations and models through which the data can be analyzed, more precisely, "Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) 3 and its derivatives, the Psychopathy Checklist Screening Version (PCL: SV) 4 and the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL: YV).5 These assessment tools are based on semi-structured interview, file review and collateral information" (Dolan and Doyle, 2007). The data retrieved through this method allows the research to have a pragmatic approach and a reality-based consideration.

In this sense, it is not only the theoretical perspective that matters in the research but more importantly the practical approach which takes into account the differences between individuals in terms of situations, background, upbringing, and social interaction. This is an important aspect because it strengthens the conclusion of the article by basing itself on real life subjects rather than theories and models of analysis.

In terms of the relation the authors have with the specialized literature that is essential for the basis of the research, the sources referenced are current research conducted by specialized institutions such as the American Psychiatric Association or attested studies in this field of analysis. The sources are various and from different periods. For instance, treaties on the psychological complex are from the 1990s and 2000s when the research in the field treated the subject with utmost interest.

Therefore, it was only normal that for theoretical reference, the two authors to use the researched theoretical background. Despite the fact that the article is written in 2007, sources range from research conducted in the early 90s to the late 2000s. The subject is treated from various perspectives, from the behavioral causes to the means of increased treatment by elaborating on the different types of actions manageable for different types of causes.

Therefore, the perspective of the article is rather comprehensive and takes into account most of the issues that can be raised on the subject. The conclusion reached by the authors is rather well defined. In this sense, they argue "Psychopathy generally shows a poor response to treatment and is a negative moderator of outcome. There are few well-controlled intervention studies but there are suggestions that cognitive skills programs may be of value.

Obstacles to successful psychological treatment include the core personality traits of deceit, manipulation and lack of remorse, as well as general problems of poor motivation, non-compliance and failure to engage in a therapeutic alliance. Future interventions need to target putative proximal causes of psychopathy" (Dolan and Doyle, 2007). The research conducted to reach this conclusion is rather comprehensive in the sense that the two authors offer the necessary information to support their research results.

More precisely, they deal with the means in which the behavior of the individuals change in time and how that change, along with other background elements, transform the patient into a more reluctant patient that is resistant to traditional medical support or treatment. This is why the conclusion is that although there has been considerable progress being made in terms of research and medical treatments, a considerable role is played by the background on which this complex is developed in time.

Depending on this background, certain cases are easier to treat and more successful. The argumentation behind such a conclusion appears to be rather valid even if only from the point-of-view of the line of argumentation. More precisely, there is clear evidence, not only among recent studies but also in the context of the historical background that the treatment of such conditions is rather difficult. Through this particular research, the causes for this limited effect of traditional treatment for this condition are further displayed and arguments are provided.

One of the arguments concerns the reluctance and resistance to treatment in the conditions in which one of the most important symptoms of this condition is related to the defiance of the authorities, of the rules, of the law, and even of the criminal law.

Given the fact that people suffering from this condition have therefore a tendency to lie and cheat without any sense of remorse or guilt (2007), the treatment is all the more difficult because there is no capacity to understand and consider as a truthful statement from the person under treatment.

More precisely, the nature of the condition is as such that doctors and treating physicians cannot take into account the attitudes and behaviors of the treated persons because that behavior can very well be an untruthful behavior or a simulated improvement or worsening of.