Implications for the Measurement of Psychopathy in the DSM-5 Using the Computerized Adaptive Test of Personality Disorder

This study investigated the ability of the Computerized Adaptive Test of Personality Disorder (CAT-PD) model to capture psychopathy in a sample consisting of U.S. (n = 565) and Australian (n = 99) undergraduates and a U.S. community sample (n = 210). More specifically, this study examined (a) the association between CAT-PD facets, particularly those consistent with DSM-5 Section III antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and measures of psychopathy, (b) the extent to which CAT-PD ASPD traits improve on DSM-5 Section II ASPD in measuring psychopathy, and (c) the utility of measuring functional impairment in additional to dimensional traits in assessing psychopathy. Analyses revealed CAT-PD ASPD traits, including traits' associations with Section III psychopathy specifier, were strongly associated with measures of psychopathy. Furthermore, CAT-PD ASPD was found to be an improvement over DSM-5 Section II ASPD in measuring psychopathy, and the dimensional nature of the CAT-PD was found to render the addition of measures of impairment unnecessary. These findings generally support the utility of the CAT-PD in the measurement of psychopathy, particularly as it relates to the dimensional assessment of psychopathy in the DSM-5 alternative model for personality disorder.