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Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU)

  • The ICU is a 24-item scale measuring callous and unemotional traits developed by Paul Frick. Some references are below:

    • Kimonis, E.R., Frick, P.J., Skeem, J.L., Marsee, M.A., Cruise, K., Munoz, L.C., . . . Morris, A.S. (2008). Assessing callous-unemotional traits in adolescent offenders: Validation of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 31, 241-252.
    • Roose, A., Bijttebier, P., Decoene, S., Claes, L., & Frick, P.J. (2010). Assessing the Affective Features of Psychopathy in Adolescence: A Further Validation of the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits. Assessment, 17, 44-57.
    • Fanti, K.A., Frick, P.J., & Georgiou, S. (2009). Linking Callous-Unemotional Traits to Instrumental and Non-Instrumental Forms of Aggression. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 31, 285-298.

    Citation reference:

    • Essau, C.A., Sasagawa, S., & Frick, P.J. (2006). Callous-unemotional traits in a community sample of adolescents. Assessment, 13, 454-469.

    Participants are asked to respond as to how well each statement describes them. Responses on a four point scale ranging from 'not at all true” to 'definitely true”. The scale was originally derived from the callous-unemotional subscale of the APSD. A bifactor model with one general factor and three specific factors has consistently been the best factor structure to this measure, meaning that a total score as well as three subscales is appropriate for this measure. The subscales were:

    • Unemotionality (items 1, 6, 14, 19, 22)
    • Uncaring (items 3, 5, 13, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24)
    • Callousness (items 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 20, 21)

    The scale was originally validated in a large community sample of German adolescents (aged 13-18). This measure was then investigated with American youth offenders and the same factor structure was found, with the exception of items 2 and 10 (of callous subscale) dropping out when looking at offenders. Finally, the same factor structure as found in the original German study was replicated in Greek and Dutch samples.