The Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD): External Correlates and Incremental Validity over Alternate Psychopathy Measures

Background

The Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD) assesses psychopathy components of grandiose-manipulative (GM), callous-unemotional (CU), daring-impulsive (DI), and conduct disorder (CD). Research on PSCD is still in its infancy, and further research is necessary to examine its psychometric properties.

Objective

We investigated the correlations between PSCD scores and their corresponding Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) and Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short Version (YPI-S) scores. We also compared their associations with external variables and explored the incremental contribution of PSCD scores over APSD and YPI-S scores. The incremental contribution of PSCD GM, CU, and DI subscales over its CD component was also examined.

Method

A total of 444 students, ranging in age from 9 to 18 years, completed measures assessing psychopathic traits and externalizing and internalizing problems.

Results

Findings indicated expected correlation coefficients between PSCD and its corresponding APSD/YPI-S scores, but APSD CU did not show hypothesized associations with PSCD/YPI-S CU. Overall, PSCD and YPI-S scores showed more expected/consistent correlations with external variables than the APSD. Furthermore, the PSCD GM/CU scores provided incremental contributions over corresponding APSD and YPI-S scores. Finally, the three psychopathic personality components of PSCD offered significant incremental contributions over the PSCD CD subscale in explaining external correlates.

Conclusion

Findings highlight the importance for clinicians and researchers to carefully select psychopathy measures, recognizing that outcomes can differ as a function of chosen measures. Furthermore, results encourage future studies to examine the utility of multiple psychopathy components as specifiers for CD. The implications for practice and avenues for future research are explored.