Compassion-Focused Therapy for Psychopathy in Incarcerated Men
Official title: COMPATi: A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of the PSYCHOPATHY.COMP Program Among Male Prison Inmates With Psychopathy
Run by University of Coimbra · NCT07481253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A 20-week therapy program called PSYCHOPATHY.COMP is being tested to see if it can help reduce psychopathic traits and improve emotional and behavioral regulation in Portuguese-speaking male inmates with antisocial personality disorder.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 19 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | Men only |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Coimbra Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lisbon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 6, 2026 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | November 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 10, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07481253 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Portuguese-speaking male inmates aged 19–30 with a diagnosed antisocial personality disorder and high psychopathic traits, who have at least one prior juvenile justice involvement and a sentence of 24 months or more.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals without high psychopathic traits or not meeting the psychiatric or language criteria may not experience benefit from the intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study will randomly assign eligible male, Portuguese-speaking inmates to receive PSYCHOPATHY.COMP in addition to usual prison support or usual support alone. PSYCHOPATHY.COMP is a 20-session, individual therapy based on Compassion Focused Therapy designed to promote compassionate motivation and better emotion regulation. The trial aims to determine whether the program reduces psychopathic traits and improves regulation of emotions and behavior compared with standard case management. Participants will be screened at baseline and assessed over the treatment period to measure changes in psychopathic traits and behavioral outcomes. The study is conducted in Portuguese-speaking prisons under the leadership of the University of Coimbra, with support from regional and national funding agencies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may show reduced psychopathic traits and better emotional and behavioral control, potentially lowering risk of disruptive and violent behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Previous nonrandomized work suggests compassion-focused approaches can reduce psychopathic traits and improve regulation in detained populations, but this is among the first randomized trials in this setting.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * male prison inmates, * Portuguese-speaking, * aged between 19 and 30 years * having at least one prior case in the juvenile justice system in which a judicial measure was applied, * with high levels of psychopathic traits (measured with the SRP-SF and LSRPS self-reported questionnaires) * with an Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) diagnosis (measured with the SCID-II) Exclusion criteria: * suspected psychotic/autism spectrum disorders and/or cognitive impairments, * female, * sentence length inferior to 24 months since the start of the study.
Where it's running
-
Prisons of the Direção-Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais (DGRSP)
Lisbon, Portugal Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.