The treatability of psychopaths

Abstract

The 1983 Mental Health Act allows the definition of psychopathic disorder to be considered separately from its treatment. The treatability of patients with psychopathic disorder is, however, controversial. Most patients in the legal category of psychopathic disorder who receive compulsory treatment do so in Special Hospitals. This study compared psychopaths considered treatable by Special Hospital consultants with those considered untreatable for the 5-year period following the introduction of the 1983 Mental Health Act. The sources of information used were the admission assessment reports of the Special Hospital psychiatrists. Analysis of psychiatric, demographic and criminological variables failed to distinguish between the two groups of treatable and untreatable psychopaths. The results suggest that the selection of psychopaths for admission to hospital and compulsory treatment is arbitrary.