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The author rises some problems of psychopathy which are the most significant at present: etiology and pathogenesis of psychopathy, their clinical classification, studies of their dynamics, differentiation of psychopathy from other forms of borderline conditions. In respect to the data concerning the modern state of the studies in psychopathy new perspectives in this area emerge: epidemiological studies of psychopathy, a study of its biological substrate, a creation of a unified classification of psychopathy, a differentiation of separate forms in the dynamics of psychopathy.

The paper deals with questions concerning the modification of classical forms of psychopathy. The forms of psychopathy are not invariable, rigid. They can change during the life span of one psychopathic personality and be expressed in an interchange of obligatory (main) and facultative (supplementary) personality traits, as well as in different variations of the facultative traits of a psychopathic personality. Besides, the forms of psychopathy may gradually change during separate periods (if comparing the structure of separate forms), which indicate the dependence of the structure and dynamics of psychopathy from the changing environment, home conditions, urbanization, cultural level, etc. This should be held in mind in selecting methods of treatment in psychopathy, in recommendations of rehabilitative measures and in forensic-psychiatric exminations.