Psychopathy traits and their association with depression, anxiety and sociodemographic factors in Peruvian medical students

Introduction: Psychopathic traits harm the professional development and interpersonal relations of the general population, including healthcare professionals. This can be seen not only in already licensed physicians, but it may also be evidenced since their formative years as medical students. Objective: To evaluate the presence of psychopathic traits in a sample of Peruvian medical students and determining whether there is an association between sociodemographic and mental health (depression and anxiety) characteristics on the levels of psychopathic traits. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 497 students of a Peruvian medical school. Through online questionnaires, the following instruments were self-administered: Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Results: 19.7% of the participants were in the psychopathic group. The variables associated with a higher frequency of belonging to the psychopathic group were male sex (aPR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.58-2.79, p < 0.05), having clinically relevant depressive (aPR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.41-2.96, p < 0.05) and anxious symptoms (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01-2.09, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Medical students of the sample studied show a high prevalence of psychopathy traits. The variables associated with a higher frequency of belonging to the psychopathic group were male sex, having clinically relevant depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. More involvement on behalf of the medical school is necessary as to the identification of the psychopathic traits in medical students.

Introducción: Los rasgos psicopáticos perjudican el desarrollo profesional y las relaciones interpersonales de la población general, incluidos los profesionales de la salud. Esto se puede ver no solo en médicos ya graduados, sino que también se puede evidenciar desde sus años formativos como estudiantes de medicina. Objetivo: Evaluar la presencia de rasgos psicopáticos en una muestra de estudiantes de medicina peruanos y determinar si existe asociación entre características sociodemográficas y de salud mental (depresión y ansiedad) sobre los niveles de rasgos psicopáticos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en 497 estudiantes de una facultad de medicina peruana. A través de cuestionarios en línea, se autoadministraron los siguientes instrumentos: Escala de Psicopatía de Autoinforme de Levenson (LSRP), Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente-9 (PHQ-9) y Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada-7 (GAD-7). Resultados: El 19,7% de los participantes pertenecían al grupo de rasgos psicopáticos. Las variables asociadas a una mayor frecuencia de pertenecer al grupo psicopático fueron el sexo masculino (RPa = 2,10, IC 95%: 1,58-2,79, p < 0,05), tener síntomas depresivos (RPa = 2,05, IC 95%: 1,41-2,96, p < 0,05) y ansiosos (RPa = 1,46, IC 95%: 1,01-2,09, p < 0,05) clínicamente relevantes. Conclusiones: Los estudiantes de medicina de la muestra estudiada presentan una alta prevalencia de rasgos psicopáticos. Las variables asociadas a una mayor frecuencia de pertenecer al grupo psicopático fueron el sexo masculino, tener síntomas depresivos y ansiosos clínicamente relevantes. Es necesaria una mayor participación por parte de las facultades de medicina en cuanto a la identificación de los rasgos psicopáticos en sus estudiantes.

A psicopatia e o criminoso nato: a modernização do positivismo criminológico / Psychopathy and the born criminal: the modernization of criminological positivism / Psicopatía y el criminal nato: la modernización del positivismo criminológico

O conceito de psicopatia é habitualmente associado a uma psicopatologia caracterizada pela falta de empatia, manipulação, agressividade, impulsividade, egocentrismo, crueldade e criminalidade. Já amplamente aceito pela comunidade científica, o conceito costuma ser utilizado em contextos jurídico-penais na validação de seu funcionamento punitivo. Dentre as concepções que alicerçaram o surgimento histórico desse conceito, destaca-se o papel do criminoso nato de Lombroso. Nesse sentido, este estudo buscou evidenciar como o conceito contemporâneo de psicopatia se firma enquanto modernização das concepções lombrosianas acerca do criminoso nato. Para isso, nos apoiamos na psicopatolologia para realizar um estudo comparativo entre as produções de Lombroso e as pesquisas contemporâneas acerca da psicopatia. Dentre as principais similaridades, destacamos a ênfase atribuída à suposta natureza criminal, etiologicamente decorrente de sua configuração orgânica. No mais, tais concepções também se assemelham no destaque de um déficit afetivo e moral, assim como na descrição da tendência a ser canhoto, egoísta, mentiroso, resistente à dor, narcisista, impulsivo, promíscuo, cruel, maléfico e inapto ao trabalho. Assim como fez Lombroso, as pesquisas acerca da psicopatia costumam ser realizadas com sujeitos já previamente criminalizados; condicionando uma seletividade étnico-racial e de classe. Descritos como sujeitos perigosos, incuráveis e intratáveis, ambas as concepções promovem a defesa do acirramento da punição jurídico-penal. Concluímos que a criminalidade nata de Lombroso continua a ser expressa no conceito de psicopatia, visto que as funções jurídico-penais e socioeconômicas de sua definição exercem o mesmo papel na legitimação científica da violência de Estado, encarceramento em massa e racismo estrutural.(AU)

Psychopathy is usually associated with a psychopathology characterized by a lack of empathy, manipulation, aggressiveness, impulsivity, egocentrism, cruelty, and criminality. Widely accepted by the scientific community, this concept is often used in legal and criminal contexts to validate its punitive functioning. Among the conceptions that underpinned the historical emergence of psychopathy, Lombroso's born criminal stands out. Hence, this study analyzes how the contemporary concept of psychopathy updates Lombrosian conceptions about the born criminal. To do so, we rely on psychopathology to conduct a comparative study between Lombroso's work and contemporary research on psychopathy. Among the main similarities, we highlight the emphasis given to the supposed criminal nature, etiologically arising from its organic configuration. Moreover, such conceptions emphasize an affective and moral deficit, and describe a tendency toward left-handedness, selfishness, lying, pain-resistance, narcissism, impulsivity, promiscuousness, cruelty, maliciousness and unfitness for work. As did Lombroso, research on psychopathy is usually conducted with individuals who have already been criminalized, conditioning an ethnic-racial and class selectivity. By describing these subjects as dangerous, incurable and intractable, both conceptions advocate for increased legal and penal punishment. In conclusion, Lombroso's natural criminality continues to underpin the concept of psychopathy, since its legal-criminal and socioeconomic functions play the same role in scientifically legitimizing state violence, mass incarceration, and structural racism.(AU)

La psicopatía es un concepto generalmente asociado a una psicopatología que se caracteriza por la falta de empatía, la manipulación, agresividad, impulsividad, egocentrismo, crueldad y criminalidad. Ya ampliamente aceptado por la comunidad científica, este concepto se utiliza a menudo en contextos legales para validar su funcionamiento punitivo. Entre los conceptos que fundamentaron el surgimiento histórico de este concepto, destaca el papel del criminal nato de Lombroso. En este contexto, este estudio buscó mostrar cómo el concepto contemporáneo de psicopatía se establece como la modernización de las concepciones lombrosianas sobre el criminal nato. Para eso, se utiliza la psicopatología para realizar un estudio comparativo entre las producciones de Lombroso y la investigación contemporánea sobre psicopatía. Entre las principales similitudes, destaca el énfasis atribuido a su supuesta naturaleza criminal, resultado etiológico de su configuración orgánica. Además, estas concepciones también son similares al resaltar un déficit afectivo y moral, así como al describir la tendencia a ser zurdo, egoísta, mentiroso, resistente al dolor, narcisista, impulsivo, promiscuo, cruel, malévolo e inadecuado para el trabajo. Como hizo Lombroso, los estudios sobre psicopatía se suelen realizar con sujetos que ya han sido criminalizados; condicionando una selectividad étnica, racial y de clase. Calificados como sujetos peligrosos, incurables e intratables, ambas concepciones promueven la defensa del aumento de la pena legal. Se concluye que la criminalidad nata de Lombroso continúa expresándose en el concepto de psicopatía, ya que las funciones penales y socioeconómicas de su definición juegan el mismo papel en la legitimación científica de la violencia estatal, encarcelamiento masivo y racismo estructural.(AU)

The antisocial personality disorder in the Brazilian movies / O transtorno da personalidade antissocial no cinema brasileiro

ABSTRACT Objective: The antisocial personality disorder (APD) is one theme of interest for psychiatry/mental health students and professionals. The access to psychopathology aspects by means of movies is able to improve the understanding about these disorders. This study aimed at evaluates the frequency of APD and of its diagnostic criteria in the Brazilian cinema for teaching purposes. Methods: The method consisted of survey sampling (for convenience, once the study is extracted from another greater project); use of a diagnostic instrument and analysis of the results. Results: 44.73% of the personalities were diagnosed with APD. All the diagnostic criteria for APD were present. The most frequent criterion was the practice of illegal acts. Impulsivity was associated with aggressiveness in 29.4% of the cases and with the use of psychoactive substances in almost 30% of the cases. 35.3% of the characters had a premature and violent death. Conclusion: The research enabled the identification of APD diagnostic criteria in the Brazilian cinema. Many scenes were able to represent the diagnosis clearly. The data proved to be sufficient in indicate the potentiality of the material as a didactic and pedagogical foundation.

RESUMO Objetivo: O transtorno de personalidade antissocial (TPA) é um tema de interesse para alunos e profissionais da psiquiatria/saúde mental. O acesso aos aspectos psicopatológicos por meio de filmes é capaz de melhorar a compreensão acerca dos transtornos. Este estudo buscou avaliar a frequência do TPA e de seus critérios diagnósticos no cinema brasileiro, para o ensino. Métodos: O método consistiu em levantamento da amostra (por conveniência, dado que o estudo é recorte de outro projeto maior); aplicação de instrumento e análise dos resultados. Resultados: Entre os personagens, 44,73% foram diagnosticados com TPA. Todos os critérios diagnósticos para TPA se fizeram presentes. O critério mais frequente foi a prática de atos ilegais. A impulsividade esteve associada à agressividade em 29,4% dos casos e ao uso de substâncias psicoativas em quase 30% dos casos. Entre os personagens, 35,3% sofreram morte prematura e violenta. Conclusão: A pesquisa possibilitou identificar as características do TPA no cinema nacional. As trajetórias dos personagens contaram com trechos de realismo variável, mas muitas cenas foram capazes de representar o diagnóstico com clareza. Os dados se mostraram suficientes para indicar a potencialidade do material como base didático-pedagógica.

Psychopathic traits in young offenders vs. non-offenders in similar socioeconomic condition

Objective: To analyze the differences in psychopathic traits between offender and non-offender youths with similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Method: The Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) scale was used to identify whether 39 young offenders with no history of mental disorders or criteria for psychopathy exhibited differences in its total score, and specifically for factor 1 or factor 2 of this scale, when compared with 32 other young people, living in similar socioeconomic conditions, who had not committed offenses. Results: We observed statistically significant between-group differences (p < 0.01) in mean PCL-R scores, with a mean score of 13.4 in the offender group vs. 2.1 in the non-offender group. We also detected significant between-group differences when we analyzed mean factor 1 (p < 0.01) and factor 2 (p < 0.01) scores separately. Although the groups exhibited statistically significant difference in educational attainment, between-group comparison of mean PCL-R scores controlling for educational attainment by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that the difference in PCL-R scores remained statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions: We conclude that, in this sample, the presence of both primary (interpersonal/affective characteristics) and secondary (lifestyle/antisocial behavior) psychopathic traits differed between offender and non-offender youths, even when excluding psychopathy and other mental disorders from the assessments. These results suggest a need for wide-ranging interventions, not restricted to socioeconomic aspects, for the management of juvenile delinquency. .

Family functioning, coping style and psychopathic personality for adult male prisoners / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship among family functioning,coping style,and psychopathic personality for adult male prisoners.Methods 328 adult male prisoners were surveyed with Family APGAR Index,Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and Psychopathic Deviate Scale.Different demographic variables were compared on male prisoners'family functioning,coping style and psychopathic personality.Coping style and psychopathic personality were compared among family functioning groups,then a relationship model was set up by structural equation modeling.Results The low age male prisoners showed significant lower growth (1.17 ±0.76),resolve (1.11 ±0.79),negative coping style(1.15 ± 0.51),the total scale of family APGAR (5.61 ± 2.73) and higher psychopathic personality (22.11 ± 4.95) than the high age male prisoners ((1.35 ± 0.72),(1.45 ± 0.68),(1.30±0.58),(6.29 ±2.63),(19.40 ±5.06),t=2.17,4.15,2.51,2.31,4.89).The rural male prisoners showed significant lower adaptation (1.04 ± 0.69) and higher positive coping style (1.95 ± 0.40) than the city male prisoners ((1.21 ± 0.74),(1.81 ± 0.43),t =2.07,3.09).The positive coping style (P =0.024)and psychopathic personality (P =0.000) of adult male prisoners among family functioning groups showed significantly difference.The strongest positive effect that adult male prisoners' positive coping style forecast family functioning was 0.275.The strongest negtive effect that male prisoners' psychopathic personality forecast family functioning was 0.257.The strongest negtive effect that male prisoners' negative coping style forecast psychopathic personality was 0.197.The strongest positive effect that male prisoners' family functioning forecast psychopathic personality was 0.266.Conclusions Positive coping style and good family functioning could effectively adjust adult male prisoners' personality.Positive coping style and perfect personality could effectively improve adult male prisoners' family functioning.Family functioning and psychopathic personality interact with each other.

El perfil psicológico de un asesino serial en la ciudad de Medellín / The psychological profile of a serial killer in the city of Medellin

El objetivo de esta investigación,es presentar un análisis de la realización de la evaluación Psicológica Forense de un asesino serial en la ciudad de Medellín. A lo largo de él se señalan algunos aspectos históricos del asesinato serial, sus características y sus diferentes tipos; asi mismo, se hace una descripción de los crímenes, el modus operandi del asesino y, por último su evaluación y perfil de personalidad. Todo ello enmarcado bajo el respeto y la ética ya que este estudio no pretende juzgar al asesino, sino analizar el fenómeno de su personalidad psicopática desde los diversos factores que se interrelacionan.

The goal of this research is to showan analysis of the psychological and forensic assessment carried out to a serial killer in the city of Medellin. In it, some historical aspects of the serial killer are made, including hischaracteristics and different types; as well as a description of the crimes, the killer's modus operandi and his assessment and personality profile. All of this is framed in the respect andthe ethics, since this research does not attempt to judge the murder, but to analyze the phenomenon of his psychotic personality taking into account the diverse factors, whichare interrelated.