10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Assessment of Psychopathy via the CAPP and Clinical Assessment Instruments is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD.

This program discusses relatively novel methods for the assessment of psychopathy in forensic and correctional contexts. Although the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and its derivates have been used successfully for this purpose, they are not without disadvantages (conceptual, practical). Furthermore, many forensic and correctional psychologists do not have the time and resources to add psychopathy-specific measures to their test armamentarium. Theoretical perspectives of psychopathy are reviewed, and various methods for assessing psychopathy from these perspectives are considered. Two psychopathy measures, in particular, the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R) and the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) clinical interview and institutional rating form, are reviewed.

This program also covers the clinical assessment of psychopathy via tests that psychologists routinely use in clinical practice. The MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), the NEO Personality Inventory-3 (NEO PI-3), and Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory – IV (MCMI-IV) are described in sufficient detail for the purposes of this training, with a particular focus on the MMPI-2-RF in light of its larger research base for this purpose. A substantial amount of time is spent discussing research supporting their use for psychopathy assessment, but specific practical applications and interpretative recommendations are also covered. Finally, case illustrations based on individuals evaluated in forensic and clinical practice are presented.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the PCL instruments in forensic and correctional practice
  • 2 Describe various theoretical perspectives of psychopathy
  • 3 Describe the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised
  • 4 Describe the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality
  • 5 Describe how the MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) measures psychopathy and its associated research base
  • 6 Describe how the Personality Assessment Inventory measures psychopathy and its associated research base
  • 7 Describe how the NEO Personality Inventory-3 measures psychopathy and its associated research base
  • 8 Describe how the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory – IV measures psychopathy and its associated research base
  • 9 Describe how to use clinical assessment instruments in the context of other information in the assessment of psychopathy

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for clinicians and professionals who want to enhance their skills in assessing psychopathy and using personality assessment instruments, such as the MMPI-2-RF, with a focus on forensic and correctional contexts. Participants will deepen their expertise in integrating psychopathy measures and commonly used personality assessments into their practice, supporting effective evaluation and intervention across a range of relevant fields.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Forensic psychologists
    • Clinical psychologists
    • Correctional mental health clinicians
    • Mental health professionals
    • Social workers specializing in forensic or correctional settings
    • Psychiatrists involved in forensic assessment
    • Professionals utilizing psychological assessment tools in security, healthcare, social services, education, or human resources

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at varying levels of experience with psychopathy assessment in forensic and correctional contexts.

    • Beginner: Participants with limited or no prior experience in psychopathy assessment or use of specialized measures in forensic or correctional settings.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience using standard clinical assessment tools (e.g., MMPI-2-RF, PAI) and a basic understanding of psychopathy concepts, seeking to expand their knowledge of novel assessment methods and research.

    • Advanced: Participants with substantial experience in forensic or correctional assessment, familiarity with multiple psychopathy measures, and an interest in integrating advanced theoretical perspectives and research findings into practice.

  • Practice Setting

    This training is designed for clinicians working in high-stakes, legally informed, security-sensitive environments where psychological assessment informs risk appraisal, treatment planning, and decision-making. Participants typically practice within interdisciplinary systems aligned with justice and public safety, adhering to rigorous documentation, policy, and ethical standards.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Prisons and jails
    • Forensic inpatient hospitals and secure psychiatric units
    • Court clinics and competency/restoration services
    • Probation, parole, and community supervision programs
    • Juvenile justice facilities and diversion programs
    • Correctional or justice-focused outpatient/telehealth services
    • Threat assessment and risk management units in healthcare, education, or government
    • Private forensic assessment practices

Presented By

Martin Sellbom, PhD Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University

Martin Sellbom is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2007 from Kent State University (USA). His research focuses on personality disorders, contemporary psychopathology models, and personality assessment with the MMPI instruments. Professor Sellbom's work has been featured in over 300 publications that includes four books, including the forthcoming (co-authored with Dustin Wygant) Forensic Mental Health Assessments using the MMPI-3. He has won several awards, including the American Psychological Foundation’s Theodore Millon mid-career award for advancing personality science, American Psychology-Law Society’s Saleem Shah Award and Society for Personality Assessment’s Samuel and Anne Beck Award for early career achievement. Professor Sellbom serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Personality Assessment. For his clinical practice, he specializes in forensic psychological evaluations.

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Martin Sellbom, PhD

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.