Antisocial Personality Disorder - APD

Antisocial Personality Disorder - Antisocial Personality Disorder Treatment

Definition of Antisocial (dissocial) Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by chronic behavior that manipulates, exploits, or violates the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal.

The term antisocial is used in DSM-IV; dissocial is the term in ICD-10. People with Antisocial personality disorder disregard the rights of others and fail to learn from adverse experiences. Often their abnormal behaviour is made worse by the abuse of alcohol and drugs. An influential description of this type of personality disorder was written in 1941 by Cleckley in his book The mask of sanity.

Lack of regard for the moral or legal standards in the local culture, marked inability to get along with others or abide by societal rules.  Antisocial Personality Disorder sometimes called psychopaths or sociopaths.

A common misconception is that antisocial personality disorder refers to people who have poor social skills. The opposite is often the case. Instead, antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of conscience. People with this disorder are prone to criminal behavior, believing that their victims are weak and deserving of being taken advantage of. They tend to lie and steal. Often, they are careless with money and take action without thinking about consequences. They are often agressive and are much more concerned with their own needs than the needs of others.

Diagnostic Criteria of Antisocial Personality Disorder

1. There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
   1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
   2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
   3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
   4. irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
   5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others
   6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
   7. lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
2. The individual is at least age 18 years.
3. There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years.
4. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode.

Treatment of Antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is considered one of the most difficult of all personality disorders to treat. Individuals rarely seek treatment on their own and may only initiate therapy when mandated by a court. The efficacy of treatment for antisocial personality disorder is largely unknown.

Features of Antisocial personality disorder

• Irresponsible
• Lack guilt and remorse
• Transient relationship
• Callous
• Fail to accept responsibility
• Impulsive and irritable

Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptom

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Site last updated: March 4, 2008

Antisocial Personality Disorder - Antisocial Personality Disorder Treatment