Citation

Blackburn R. Leg. Crim. Psychol. 2000; 5(1): 1-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, British Psychological Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1348/135532500167921

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research on personality disorders and their treatment is examined in thelight of recent proposals for dealing with offenders who have 'severe personality disorders'. Problems in the classification and diagnosis of personality disorders are highlighted by the extensive comorbidity found between personality disorders and between these and other mental disorders. This reveals that those identified as antisocial or psychopathic are heterogeneous and are likely to have multiple psychological dysfunctions. This is not captured by the term 'severe personality disorder', and this term has too many differing meanings to be useful. Although applied to only a limited range of personality disorders, treatment of these disorders in mental health settings has successfully reduced impairment and demonstrated personality change. It is concluded that personality disordersamong serious offenders are a health care problem and that attempts to develop the more promising treatment methods in existing settings are justified.

Language: en