Psychopathology Checklist-Revised (Pcl-R)

Clinical Interview

Dr. Robert Hare developed an interview and information schedule to assist the qualified professional in conducting an effective and efficient interview. The interview begins by obtaining demographic information on the subject. Then, it moves into obtaining a chronological life history of the subject. Specific information about the documented charges and/or convictions of the subject after the age of 18 is important. The interview schedule addresses each of the 20 areas that will be scored on the instrument. There may be some items that cannot be scored, and Hare has provisions for such an event.

Collateral Information

Adequate collateral information is essential to the PCL-R administration and scoring. An interview alone will never be sufficient. In fact, prior to the interview, the collateral information, in the form of records, should be reviewed so that the interview can be conducted in a more effective manner.

Qualifications for using the instrument include the following:

• 1.
  Possess an advanced degree in the social, medical, or behavioral sciences, such as a Ph.D., D. Ed., or M.D.
• 2.
  Be registered or licensed with the local state or provincial registration board that regulates the assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders.
• 3.
  Have experience with forensic populations or at least 2 years of relevant work-related experience.
• 4.
  Limit the use of the PCL-R to populations in which it has been fully validated.
• 5.
  Insure adequate training and experience in the use of the PCL-R.

Workshops are offered that will allow qualified professionals to obtain the training necessary to use the instrument. These workshops include training in interviewing and gathering collateral information. The instrument itself is scored using the information obtained. The information obtained is key to the accuracy of the instrument.

Hare's PCL-R measures the following characteristics:

• 1.
  Glibness/superficial charm
• 2.
  Grandiose sense of self-worth
• 3.
  Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
• 4.
  Pathological lying
• 5.
  Conning/manipulative
• 6.
  Lack of remorse or guilt
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• 7.
  Shallow affect
• 8.
  Callous/lack of empathy
• 9.
  Parasitic lifestyle
• 10.
  Poor behavioral controls
• 11.
  Promiscuous sexual behavior
• 12.
  Early behavioral problems
• 13.
  Lack of realistic long-term goals
• 14.
  Impulsivity
• 15.
  Irresponsibility
• 16.
  Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
• 17.
  Many short-term marital relationships
• 18.
  Juvenile delinquency
• 19.
  Revocation of conditional release
• 20.
  Criminal versatility