Predictors of Adolescent Psychopathy: The Role of Impulsivity, Hyperactivity, and
Sensation Seeking.
M. J. Vitacco and R. Rogers,
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
29(4): 374-382, 2001.
Clinical applications to psychopathy encompass downward extensions to adolescent
populations. In alliance with clinical practice, several prominent researchers have formulated
prediction models for adolescent psychopathy that include various forms of behavioral dysregulation,
including impulsivity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sensation seeking. As a
cross-sectional study, the current investigation systematically examined behavioral dysregulation in
79 male adolescents who, as a result of adjudication, were placed them in a maximum-security
facility. Impulsivity appeared to be the best predictor of both psychopathy and conduct problems. In
addition, conduct-disordered symptoms were predicted mostly by impulsivity, with minor
contributions from sensation seeking and ADHD symptoms.