The criminal justice system has been under critique in recent years for prioritizing punishment over treatment, but how can we be confident in who is open to benefiting from treatment? A study published in Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology explores how psychopathy traits may be related to treatment engagement for adolescents.

Adolescents who are involved in the criminal justice system due to antisocial behavior are often encouraged or mandated to have mental health treatment. This could potentially be very beneficial and could even prevent future antisocial behavior in adulthood. A key component of treatment planning is knowing who is open to engaging in treatment in order for it to have the desired effects.

Being engaged in treatment is more than just attending sessions and can be characterized by having a commitment to change and taking an active role in healing. Psychopathy is a trait that has a complicated relationship with treatment engagement, with the body of literature not drawing a firm conclusion as of now. This new study seeks to understand the specific aspects of psychopathy associated with treatment engagement for adolescents.

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PsyPost
April 26, 2023