| Institution: | 1. Section 2. of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Policlinico Universitario, p.za G., Cesare, 70124 Bari;3. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5459-9309;4. Forensic Psychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1438 South Grand Blvd., Saint Louis, MO, 63104Corresponding author: Alan R. Felthous, M.D. E‐mail:;5. Sistema Polimodulare REMS Castiglione delle Stiviere ASL MN, Mantova, Italy |
| Abstract: | Various studies have shown that women with psychopathy tend to commit crimes that are less violent than those of psychopathic men. The present study was designed to address the influence of psychopathy on the crimes committed by female offenders. A national sample of female offenders found NGRI or of diminished responsibility and at risk for criminal recidivism (OPG patients) was compared with a sample of female offenders who were convicted and imprisoned. Results of this comparison between the two groups of female offenders indicate that psychopathy is a transversal psychopathological dimension which may or may not be associated with other mental disorders. In both samples, the most commonly reported offenses among women with high PCL‐R scores were minor offenses, not particularly violent, but they appear to be related to typical psychopathic features such as superficial charm, pathological lying, and manipulation. |
