Clinical change in psychopathic traits after the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program: preliminary findings of a controlled trial with male detained youth

Silva, Diana Ribeiro da; Rijo, Daniel; Salekin, Randall T.; Paulo, Marlene; Miguel, Rita Ramos; Gilbert, Paul

doi:10.1007/s11292-020-09418-x

Cited by 18 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…These findings indicate that the strategy of change of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program was effective in reducing CU traits, which go against a substantial amount of research suggesting that CU traits may be particularly resistant to treatment efforts (Butler et al, 2011;Wilkinson et al, 2015). If these findings prove to be consistent in future studies, this may indicate that specific and tailored interventions, such as the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program, can be effective in decreasing this set of traits (Ribeiro da Silva et al, 2020b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…The PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program is the first CFT-based program specifically designed to target psychopathic traits among detained youth. Although preliminary studies showed that this program was effective in reducing psychopathic traits in this at-risk population, the study's methodological weaknesses (e.g., small sample size, lack of follow-up assessment) warranted caution when interpreting its results (Ribeiro da Silva et al, 2020b). This controlled trial tried to overcome these shortcomings by testing the efficacy of this program in reducing psychopathic traits in a larger sample of male detained youth and by testing if those effects were maintained six months after the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP completion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The efficacy of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program in reducing psychopathic traits: A controlled trial with male detained youth.

Silva

Rijo

Brazão

et al. 2021

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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Objective: To assess the efficacy of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program in reducing psychopathic traits among male detained youth. Method:In this controlled trial, a treatment group (n = 58) and a control group (n = 61) answered the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short (YPIS) and the Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder (PSCD) at baseline, posttreatment, and six months' follow-up. Treatment participants attended the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP; controls only received Treatment As Usual. Treatment effects were tested with latent growth curve models (LGCM).Results: At baseline, no significant differences between groups were found. Results from LGCM showed that condition was a significant predictor of change over time observed in almost all outcome measures. Concerning the YPIS, treatment participants presented a significant decrease both in the total score and in the YPIS factors scores when compared with the controls (medium/large effect sizes; growth modeling analysis -GMA d ranging from .58 to 1.12).Considering the PSCD, treatment participants also showed a significant decrease both in the total score and in the PSCD factors scores (except for the grandiose-manipulative factor) when compared with controls (medium effect sizes; GMA d ranging from .53 to .72). Results also showed that treatment effects were maintained six months after the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP completion. Conclusions:Findings indicate that the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP is a promising treatment approach to reduce psychopathic traits among male detained youth, suggesting that interventions targeting these traits should be considered in their rehabilitation, as the absence of tailored interventions may increase the levels of psychopathic traits and its associated risks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The efficacy of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program in reducing psychopathic traits: A controlled trial with male detained youth.

Silva

Rijo

Brazão

et al. 2021

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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“…In many ways, because these are individuals that often manipulate themselves into power, these are the individuals for whom we need to find ways of engaging them with and supporting compassion training. Nonetheless some inspiring work developing CFT in forensic populations have shown that it may l have potential to reduce psychopathic traits in some people (da Silva et al, 2020).…”

Section: Contextualizing Compassionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy

2020

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The concept, benefits and recommendations for the cultivation of compassion have been recognized in the contemplative traditions for thousands of years. In the last 30 years or so, the study of compassion has revealed it to have major physiological and psychological effects influencing well-being, addressing mental health difficulties, and promoting prosocial behavior. This paper outlines an evolution informed biopsychosocial, multicomponent model to caring behavior and its derivative “compassion” that underpins newer approaches to psychotherapy. The paper explores the origins of caring motives and the nature and biopsychosocial functions of caring-attachment behavior. These include providing a secure base (sources of protection, validation, encouragement and guidance) and safe haven (source of soothing and comfort) for offspring along with physiological regulating functions, which are also central for compassion focused therapy. Second, it suggests that it is the way recent human cognitive competencies give rise to different types of “mind awareness” and “knowing intentionality” that transform basic caring motives into potentials for compassion. While we can care for our gardens and treasured objects, the concept of compassion is only used for sentient beings who can “suffer.” As psychotherapy addresses mental suffering, cultivating the motives and competencies of compassion to self and others can be a central focus for psychotherapy.

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“…The growing empirical support of CFT (see Leaviss & Uttley, 2015 for a review), the reliability of conceptual models explaining psychopathic traits under the lens of a CFT approach (Ribeiro da Silva, Vagos, & Rijo, 2019), and the compelling theoretical support of CFT as an adequate treatment for youth with disruptive behavior and psychopathic traits (Ribeiro da Silva et al, 2013, 2015) lead Ribeiro da Silva et al (2017) to develop the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program: an individual compassion-based psychotherapeutic intervention for juvenile detainees with CD and psychopathic traits. The main goal of this program is to reduce psychopathic traits and disruptive behavior through the development of a compassionate motivation in these youth, toward both the self and others.…”

Section: Theoretical and Research Basis For Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Efficacy of a Compassion-Focused Therapy–Based Intervention in Reducing Psychopathic Traits and Disruptive Behavior: A Clinical Case Study With a Juvenile Detainee

Silva

Rijo

Castilho

et al. 2019

Clinical Case Studies

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Conduct disorder (CD) is the most diagnosed psychopathological disorder in juvenile detainees. The presence of a CD diagnosis, especially when associated with psychopathic traits, contributes to a poor prognosis, high recidivism rates, and low responsivity to treatment in these youth. Although group intervention programs have proven to be effective in decreasing antisocial behavior, studies testing their efficacy in reducing psychopathic traits are scarce and limited. Moreover, there is a lack of research focused on the efficacy of individual treatment approaches specifically designed to reduce psychopathic traits and disruptive behavior in juvenile detainees. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) shows promising results in the treatment of several psychopathological disorders. Besides, there is some theoretical support to consider CFT a suitable approach to treating juvenile detainees. However, there are no treatment programs based on CFT that are designed to target psychopathic traits and disruptive behavior in these youth. Consequently, treatment outcome research in this area is absent. This clinical case study presents the treatment of a juvenile detainee with CD, a high psychopathic profile, and a very high risk for criminal recidivism using the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program (a 20-session individual CFT program), which was specially designed to reduce psychopathic traits and disruptive behavior. The treatment outcome data revealed a significant reduction in psychopathic traits and disruptive behavior. The treatment gains were maintained and/or increased over time (3 months after program completion). This clinical case study demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program in reducing psychopathic traits and disruptive behavior in a juvenile detainee.

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Clinical change in psychopathic traits after the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program: preliminary findings of a controlled trial with male detained youth

Cited by 18 publications

References 64 publications

The efficacy of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program in reducing psychopathic traits: A controlled trial with male detained youth.

The efficacy of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP program in reducing psychopathic traits: A controlled trial with male detained youth.

Compassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy

The Efficacy of a Compassion-Focused Therapy–Based Intervention in Reducing Psychopathic Traits and Disruptive Behavior: A Clinical Case Study With a Juvenile Detainee

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