Journal of Rare Disorders: Diagnosis & Therapy

Editorial

The physiological and anti-social symptoms of anti-social personality disorder are referred to as psychopathy. Psychopathy is characterized by diagnostic features such as superficial charm, high intelligence, poor judgment and failure to learn from experience, pathological egocentricity and incapacity for love, lack of remorse or shame, impulsivity, grandiose sense of self-worth, pathological lying, manipulative behavior, poor selfcontrol, promiscuous sexual behavior, juvenile delinquency, and criminal versatility, among others. The prevalence of psychopathy in the general population is estimated to be between 0.1 and 1.2 percent, while the proportion of incarcerated persons with psychopathy is estimated to be 15 to 25 percent [1-3].

Symptoms and Causes

Since common symptoms of psychopathy can be seen as early as infancy, it is known as a developmental condition. As a consequence, genes may predispose people to psychopathy, while other environmental factors may also play a role. Other causes, such as brain trauma, can, however, play a role in the development of psychopathy. Neuroimaging experiments have begun to show variations between healthy controls and psychopaths in distinct brain regions. There are anomalies in the prefrontal-temporo-limbic regions of the brain, which are involved in emotional control and learning. The amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex are especially associated with psychopathy and aggression among all of these impaired brain areas that are involved in emotional control and learning/reward processing.

Diagnosis

Psychopathy is a chronic (long-term) mental condition characterised by irregular and aggressive social actions with little to no regret or guilt. As a consequence, people who possess these characteristics are usually referred to as "psychopaths." Two of the most common diagnostic instruments used to evaluate psychopathy in legal settings are the psychopathy checklist and the psychopathic personality inventory. Psychopathy is classified as a score of 25 out of 40 in the United Kingdom, while the PCL is defined as a score of 30 in the United States. Psychopathy is categorised as an antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and a dissocial personality disorder (DPD) in the DSM and ICD, respectively. They test the following three main elements:

1. Disinhibition is characterised by a lack of self-controland an inability to control one's impulses.

2. Meanness is marked by a lack of empathy and close attachments, as well as defiance of authority and a desire for disruptive excitement.

3. Tolerance of risk, high self-confidence, and social assertiveness are all examples of boldness.

Treatment

Psychopathy is highly difficult to diagnose and treat. In addition, people with psychopathy are often unable or unmotivated to seek care and can be difficult to work with. Individuals are insensitive to punishment and threat, so conventional penalties (incarceration or community service) are ineffective. Antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic, borderline, psychotic, and schizoid personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and ADHD are all popular comorbidities of psychopathy. Antipsychotic, antidepressant, and mood-stabilizing drugs can be used to treat these comorbidities, but none of them can work for psychopathy alone.

References

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/schizophrenia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354449
2. https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/schizophrenia
3. https://www.psychiatry.org/patientsfamilies/schizophrenia/what-isschizophrenia