Content Validation of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality—Basic Version (CAPP-Basic) Using Prototypical Analysis

Abstract

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is a lexically based conceptual model of psychopathy. Despite widespread use in research settings, the Lexical Rating Scale for the CAPP (CAPP-LRS) requires an advanced reading level for completion. The present study is the first to evaluate the content validity of the CAPP-Basic, a lexically simplified version of the CAPP-LRS designed for use with individuals possessing lower verbal skills. Symptoms were rated by mental health professionals (N = 121). Findings were largely in line with results of previous studies, indicating good content validity of the CAPP-Basic at the domain and symptom level.

Increasing the Utility of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality–Lexical Rating Scale (CAPP-LRS): Instrument Adaptation and Simplification

“… 1 It is noted that as of the date of this publication, a prototypicality study conducted with the CAPP-Basic is already in press at Journal of Personality Disorders. Findings of this investigation suggest support for the content validity of the CAPP-Basic, and indicate that results regarding symptom and domain prototypicality ratings, as well as symptom specificity ratings, largely parallel results observed in past studies ( Hanniball et al, in press ). …”

“…Fortunately, such an investigation is already underway. Recent prototypicality work by Hanniball et al (in press) , suggests that mental health experts and forensic specialists view the majority of revised items included in the CAPP-Basic to be highly prototypical of psychopathy. In addition, findings regarding the specificity of items was shown to closely parallel that of previous prototypicality work with the CAPP-LRS.…”