From H. Cleckley to DSM-IV-TR: The evolution of the concept of psychopathy toward the medicalization of delinquency

Abstract

Psychopathy is described in two contemporary nosographic handbooks (ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR0) as the condition of having an anti-social personality. This article contrasts these nosographies in terms of the diagnostic criteria used for psychopathy. The consequences of this use, especially that presented by the DSM, are discussed, such as (1) the degradation of diagnoses to the mere filling out of forms; (2) emphasis on the historical correlation between psychopathy and delinquency. © 2009 Associação Universitária de Pesquisa em Psicopatologia Fundamental.