2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Introduction to the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD.

This program describes how to use the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) in forensic and correctional settings. The full procedure, including the clinical interview, informant reports, and institutional rating form, is reviewed. A novel self-report version for screening purposes is discussed. Research supporting the CAPP for psychopathy assessment is described and discussed. Specific practical applications and interpretative recommendations are substantially covered as well. Finally, case illustrations based on individuals evaluated in forensic practice are discussed.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the theoretical model underlying the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality
  • 2 Describe the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality approach to psychopathy assessment
  • 3 Describe the research supporting the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality in psychopathy assessment
  • 4 Describe how to use the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality in the context of other information in the assessment of psychopathy

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in assessing psychopathy and personality pathology, with a particular emphasis on the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP). It is suitable for those specializing in forensic psychology and those who wish to enhance their knowledge and practical skills in forensic assessment across a range of sectors, including criminal justice, healthcare, social services, education, security, and human resources.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors)
    • Forensic specialists
    • Criminal justice professionals
    • Security professionals
    • Healthcare providers
    • Social service workers
    • Educators
    • Human resources professionals

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience with forensic assessment and the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP).

    • Beginner: Participants with limited or no prior experience using the CAPP or conducting psychopathy assessments in forensic or correctional settings.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in forensic assessment or prior exposure to psychopathy assessment tools, seeking to deepen their understanding and application of the CAPP model and procedures.

  • Practice Setting

    Practice occurs in structured, legally informed environments where CAPP-based evaluations inform risk management, treatment planning, and adjudicative decisions. Professionals work in secure institutions and community-based services, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and following formal procedures (clinical interviews, collateral/informant reports, and institutional rating forms, with screening tools as appropriate).


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Prisons, jails, and detention centers
    • Forensic hospitals and secure inpatient units
    • Court clinics and specialty courts
    • Probation and parole services
    • Hospital- and clinic-based psychiatric services
    • Social services (child/adult protective services, family court programs)
    • Police/public safety psychology and threat management units
    • School/university threat assessment or behavioral intervention teams
    • Corporate security and HR risk management/fitness-for-duty programs

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.