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BACKGROUND: Diagnostic and conceptual issues relating to psychopathy are widely debated, but advances in our understanding of the aetiology are limited. METHOD: A PSYCHLIT computerised database search of publications covering five decades was supplemented by tracing back through references from existing review work. RESULTS: Over 200 articles were extracted, and 95 were selected for review. CONCLUSIONS: It is timely to evaluate the rôle of brain dysfunction. Biological determinants are under-researched and the lack of consistency in operational definitions in published research precludes anything more than tentative conclusions about the genetic, biochemical or electrophysiological correlates of psychopathy and antisocial behaviour. A multi-modal research programme is required in the search for a comprehensive model of psychopathy that can guide both research efforts and clinical interventions.
Mairead Dolan (Mon,) studied this question.