Schizophrenia spectrum disorders, substance misuse, and the four-facet model of psychopathy: the relationship to violence.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between the four-facet model of PCL-R psychopathy and violence in a community-based sample of Australian men with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

METHOD

A community sample of 94 males with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders was recruited from mental health services within Victoria, Australia. Psychopathy was measured using the PCL-R. Measures of substance misuse and lifetime violence were also administered.

RESULTS

PCL-R-total, Facets 2, 3, and 4 scores and substance misuse (DAST) scores were predictive of Violent versus Non-Violent group membership. The regression equation indicated that the predictive validity of PCL-R scores remained significant after controlling for substance misuse. An additional regression indicated that only Facets 3 and 4 were significant in predicting violence group membership.

CONCLUSION

Psychopathy (particularly the antisocial and behavioural components) was associated with lifetime violence, even after controlling for substance misuse. These findings have implications for the assessment, treatment, and management of health clients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.