Psychopathy: Simple or Syndromal Disorder of Personality

Abstract

Psychopathy is one of the most puzzling clinical diagnosis and has been a subject to numerous theoretical attempts to define this personality disorder. Although not being recognised as an independent disorder in the DSM-5, the disorder is manifested in different areas of the individual’s personality and subsequently became subject of consideration as syndromal, not a simple disorder. This condition is usually stable and long-lasting, its onset usually traced back to childhood or adolescence, often being undiagnosed and/or successfully masked by the psychopath. Some psychopaths are quite successful in their profession, others are commonly related to the violence or crime.