ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER

A

health condition where someone has a pattern

of behavior of manipulating, exploiting, or

violating the rights of others. It can be inferred

that most people with ASPD have criminal

histories.

ASSOCIATED FEATURES

P

eople with ASPD usually:

•A

ct charming

•F

latter and manipulate others’ emotions

•A

re repeated law offenders

•D

isregard safety for anyone(including themselves)

•M

ay abuse drugs

•L

ie, steal, and fight

•H

ave no remorse

•H

ave anger issues and are arrogant

ETIOLOGY

T

he causes of ASPD are unknown. Some experts

believe that genetics and childhood abuse play

a role in the development of this disorder.

Children with an alcoholic, abusive, or

antisocial parent are at greater risk.

PREVALENCE

A

SPD is much more common in men than women.

About 80 to 85 percent of incarcerated criminals

have this disorder. Only 20 percent of them qualify to

be a psychopath. Most psychopaths have ASPD but

this isn’t true in vice-versa. 1 in 47 people have

ASPD, that’s 5.7 million people in the U.S.

TREATMENT

T

his disorder is one of the most difficult to treat because the

sufferer usually do not seek help on their own. Therapy is

the most common treatment. This usually involves showing

patients the consequences of their destructive behavior.

Sometimes medications and antidepressants are

administered to deal with the conditions that collates with

ASPD.

PROGNOSIS

F

or teenagers, there is a possibility that it can

improve with age. But for the most part, it is very

dynamic and can turn out differently for different

people. Studies have shown that it can either worsen

or get better.

DISCUSSION

H

ow should society deal with people afflicted by

ASPD?

REFERENCES

Antisocial Personality Disorder. (n.d.). Internet Mental Health. Retrieved May 5,

2011, from http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe04.html

Antisocial Personality Disorder. (n.d.). Psychology Classroom at AllPsych Online.

Retrieved May 5, 2011,from

http://allpsych.com/disorders/personality/antisocial.html

Antisocial Personality Disorder - Psych Central. (n.d.). Psych Central - Trusted

mental health, depression, bipolar, ADHD and psychology

information. Retrieved May 5, 2011, from

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx7.htm