Psychopathic disorder is de?ned by the Mental Health Act 1983 as a persistent disorder or disability of mind (whether or not including signi?cant impairment of intelligence) which results in abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct. The cardinal features are as follows: (1) Absence of normal feelings for other people such as love, affection, sympathy and condolence. (2) A tendency to antisocial impulsive acts with no forethought of the consequences. (3) A failure to learn by experience and to be deterred from crime by punishment.
(4) Absence of any other form of mental disorder that would explain the unusual behaviour. The corresponding American terminology is ‘antisocial personality disorder’. (See MENTAL ILLNESS.)
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