Does the Predictive Validity of Psychopathy Ratings Depend on the Clinical Experience of the Raters?

ABSTRACT

We compared the predictive validity of Psychopathy Checklist- Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 2003) scores assigned to 80 sexual offenders by two trained graduate students (using file review) and at least one licensed clinician (using file review and interview). There was more variability among the scores assigned by the licensed clinicians than those assigned by the graduate students, and the scores assigned by licensed clinicians were stronger predictors of future offending than those assigned by the graduate students. Findings raise questions about a possible association between clinical experience and PCL-R score validity and highlight the need for more research in this area.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychopathy checklist
• PCL-R
• risk assessment
• clinical experience

Funding

The research contained in this document was coordinated in part by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (587-AR09). The contents of this document reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.