ABSTRACT
Jeffrey Dahmer was a sexual predator and serial killer notorious for cannibalizing (eating) many of his victims. He killed 17 males between 1978 and 1991, was sentenced to 15 consecutive life terms in 1992, and was subsequently killed by an inmate two years later. His early upbringing was unremarkable until aged six. Then, he underwent minor surgery, his brother was born, and he became increasingly withdrawn. After high school, he enrolled in college but dropped out after one quarter because of drinking and failure to attend class. Afterwards, he enlisted in the Army but was dishonorably discharged because of alcoholism. When his Army superior berated him and said he would never amount to anything, Dahmer is reported to have responded, “Just wait and see, someday everyone will know me.” So what was his DSM diagnosis? Many speculated it was some kind of psychosis, while others—tongue in cheek—claimed it had to be Unspecified Eating Disorder (because of cannibalism)! Actually, it was Psychopathic Personality, which in DSM-5 terms is coded as Antisocial Personality Disorder.
