May 7, 2012

expert reaction to study of psychopathy and brain structure

A study in Archives of General Psychiatry found differences in brain structure between people with psychopathy from those with anti-social personality disorder.

Lindsay Thomson, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, said:

“This is a very important paper because it separates antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) from psychopathy which is not usually done. It adds to the evidence that psychopathy is a neurodevelopmental brain disorder.

“The main weakness is that the work has been carried out in adults and it is possible that differences may be a result of life experiences caused by the psychopathy (cause versus effect). However, the researchers controlled for drug use and compared with antisocial men who would be expected to have had similar life experiences.

“This is also a relatively small study and would therefore need to be replicated.”

Professor Essi Viding, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, said:

“Currently psychopathic and non-psychopathic individuals with persistent antisocial behaviour are considered under one diagnostic category, antisocial personality disorder. This study has provided weighty new evidence that it is important to distinguish the two groups.”

‘The Antisocial Brain: Psychopathy Matters – A Structural MRI Investigation of Antisocial Male Offenders’ by Gregory, S. et al., published in Archives of General Psychiatry on Monday 7th May.