“Do many psychopaths have disordered personalities?”

Psychopathic tendencies overlap considerably with narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders.

Psychopath is Axis I diagnosis, personality disorder is Axis II diagnosis. They are two different level disorders. Many people can have coexisting conditions, but not always. Many times, Axis I can mask Axis II condition.

Although it greatly depends on your specific definition of psychopath, the Lay’s public definition really involves individuals that are able to say and do anything for their own personal goals and gains, without any remorse. Thus, you may have a wolf in sheep‘s clothing. Most people believe there is no easy way to rapidly identify an individual with this difficulty. Usually due diligence in researching the individual very very thoroughly helps solidify the diagnosis. When in doubt, would urge one to back out, and reassess in a very objective sense.

Lance Steinberg MD, Inc.