Should Psychopathy Qualify for Preventive Outpatient Commitment?

Introduction to this issue: International perspectives on psychopathy: An update

“…The question of whether or not psychopathic disorders can be effectively treated is important not only for the deployment of therapeutic resources, but also for forensically relevant questions such as whether those with psychopathic disorders should qualify for civil commitment (Winick, LoPiccolo, Anand, & Hartswick, 2007). The research on ''treatability'' of psychopathy can be confusing, with Skeem and colleagues, for example, providing evidence for optimism (Skeem, Monahan, & Mulvey, 2002); whereas the work by Rice, Harris, and Cormier (1992) is cited as support for the thesis that treatment can worsen the prognosis for offenders with high levels of psychopathy.…”