Are Clinicians Bound by the DSM IV Criteria?
The PCL-R has consistently proven itself as the most effective tool for assessing psychopathy, a construct used to describe a set of deficits that relate to processes of thinking which have an extreme affect on behavior. The PCL-R, developed by Robert Hare, consists of twenty features of psychopathy that are based on a semi-structured interview. Psychopathy has been consistently linked to the DSM-IV diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASD) due to the fact that nearly all people diagnosed with psychopathy are also diagnosed with ASD, however only about 20% of those with ASD are psychopathic. Despite significant research to the contrary, many clinicians see psychopathy and ASD as synonymous. Many researchers believe that the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria are far too broad and therefore ineffective in accurately diagnosing individuals who demonstrate psychopathic/ASD traits. The criteria for ASD does not capture all of the interpersonal and affective traits of those deemed psychopa
