A Comparison of Psychopathy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Brain Dysfunction Among Sex Offenders

Abstract

This study examines the relationship of Hare's psychopathy scores (PCL-R) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and brain dysfunction measures in a sample of 1,695 adult male sexual, violent, and nonviolent offenders. ADHD and brain dysfunction were significantly more common among psychopaths than non-psychopaths. Psychopaths showed more neurological disorders and early problems with learning disorders. Although psychopathy is characteristically considered to be an untreatable and dangerous condition, its significant association with ADHD and brain dysfunction indicates that there are important treatment paths that should be explored and that early treatment should be an important consideration in prevention of adult criminal behavior.

KEYWORDS:

• psychopathy
• ADHD
• brain dysfunction
• intelligence
• sex offender
• violent offender