Psychopathy as a clinical-forensic construct: conceptual evolution, diagnostic criteria and challenges in forensic assessment

Psychopathy is a highly complex clinical-forensic construct, whose definition, diagnosis and practical application have been the subject of intense debate over time. This article offers a critical review of the conceptual evolution of the term, the main assessment instruments already known and the ethical-legal challenges involved in its use in forensic contexts, with emphasis on the Mexican case. Through a theoretical-documentary methodology with a qualitative approach, two central questions are analyzed: how has the conceptualization of psychopathy changed from its classical formulations to the current models, and what are the risks and limits of its expert application in the legal field? The findings show that, although psychopathy has evolved from subjective clinical descriptions to structured models (such as the PCL-R and the triarchic model), its interpretation remains controversial and its forensic use requires caution. In Mexico, important normative gaps, lack of specialized training and absence of culturally validated instruments have been identified, which limits a rigorous and rights-respecting assessment.