Not all psychopaths fit the 'cold, callous and untreatable' stereotype

A new study has revealed that some psychopaths, who appear to cold and callous, does not fit the stereotype and can be treated with the right therapy.

Some pre-psychopathic youth, who appear cold and callous, actually experience unmanageable, but treatable, emotional distress.

The study suggested that this monolithic view, shared by some treatment professionals, was not only wrong but prevents many diagnosed with psychopathy, or precursors of it, from receiving therapies that could help them live happier, more productive lives.

Tim Stickle, professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont said that the hopeful implication, was that this set of psychological issues was treatable with approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy that teach strategies for managing emotions.

Conventional treatments for aggression and psychopathy emphasize rewards and punishments to change unwanted behaviors.

The study was first to find that CU girls are especially likely to fall within the group that suffers from significant emotional distress and unregulated negative feeling.

It also breaks ground in showing that callous and unemotional youth are at risk of developing clinically significant levels of depression.

The study is published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.