Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder-Short Version (PSCD-SV): Psychometric Properties, Concurrent Correlates and Parenting Predictors

Laura López-Romero,Olalla Cutrín,Lorena Maneiro,Randall T Salekin

doi:10.1007/s10578-022-01335-6

Abstract

The present study aims to further examine the four-factor model of psychopathy in adolescence with a new alternate model for the assessment of psychopathic traits and conduct disorder (CD): The Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder-Short version (PSCD-SV). Data were collected in a sample of 414 adolescents (49.2% females) aged 12–15 at the first assessment who were then followed-up 2 years later. Results supported the usefulness of the PSCD-SV to assess the broader construct of psychopathy showing good psychometric properties, including adequate reliability and validity, while accounting for all its dimensions. In addition, the study showed close associations between psychopathic traits and adolescent behavioral, emotional and psychosocial maladjustment. Finally, the findings elucidated the PSCD’s connection to parental support and psychological control, and reinforced the potential role of parenting practices as predictors that can act as mechanisms of change in the development of psychopathy. Overall, current findings shed light on conceptual and developmental models of psychopathy that may have implications for assessment, diagnostic classification, prevention, and intervention.

Highlights

Psychopathy or psychopathic personality has been traditionally defined as constellation of co-occurring interpersonal, affective, and behavioral dimensions, in addition to antisocial traits and behaviors [1]
Item selection for the Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD) was performed using both rational and empirical criteria and according to three main premises: (1) to provide a measure of the three-factor model of psychopathic personality plus conduct disorder (CD) in a way that closely resembles how it is often conceptualized in adolescence and adulthood [2], and including only those traits with an empirical and/or theoretical support for being identifiable at early developmental stages [7, 23]; (2) to increase the homogeneity within scales with item selection focused on content representativeness and item harmonization [9]
While this study demonstrates the psychometric properties of the Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder-Short version (PSCD-SV), it shows how the PSCD, and measures that consider the broader construct, may have important implications for developmental models aimed at better understanding the mechanisms involved in the development of psychopathy and related behavioral problems, and for prevention and intervention purposes

Summary

Introduction

Psychopathy or psychopathic personality has been traditionally defined as constellation of co-occurring interpersonal (e.g., deceitfulness, grandiosity), affective (e.g., callousness, lack of remorse), and behavioral dimensions (e.g., impulsivity, irresponsibility), in addition to antisocial traits and behaviors [1]. Item selection for the PSCD was performed using both rational and empirical criteria and according to three main premises: (1) to provide a measure of the three-factor model of psychopathic personality plus CD in a way that closely resembles how it is often conceptualized in adolescence and adulthood [2], and including only those traits with an empirical and/or theoretical support for being identifiable at early developmental stages [7, 23]; (2) to increase the homogeneity within scales with item selection focused on content representativeness and item harmonization [9]. This latter point was to only include items that did not contradict one another (e.g., impulsive vs. planful/manipulative); and, (3) to include the four criteria for CD, plus one oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) item

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Conclusion