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Psychopathy in Scotland

Reaside Clinic, Birmingham Great Park, Rubery, Birmingham B45 9BE

Aims and method The aim was to examine why the legal category of psychopathic disorder does not appear in the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and to review selected literature relating to differences between prison and special hospital populations in Scotland from those elsewhere.

Results There is now some emerging evidence to suggest that the legislation north of the border might reflect the notion that there may be fewer people with psychopathic disorders in Scotland.

Clinical implications With devolution and the advent of a Scottish Parliament the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 is likely to be reviewed. At that time it would be inappropriate to consider including ‘psychopathic disorder’ but some alternative to the current rather narrow definition of ‘mental disorder’ may be required