Antisocial Personality Disorder
Medical Author: Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
What are the symptoms and signs of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)?
To understand antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), it is necessary to learn what having any personality disorder involves. As defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, 2000), a personality disorder (PD) is a persistent pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that is significantly different from what is considered normal within the person's own culture.
Professionals group personality disorders based on a commonality of symptoms.
Cluster A personality disorders are those that include symptoms of social isolation, and/or odd, eccentric behavior. These disorders include:
- paranoid personality disorder
- schizotypal personality disorder
- schizoid personality disorder
Cluster B personality disorders are those that include symptoms of dramatic or erratic behaviors (counter-social behaviors). These personality disorders include:
Cluster C personality disorders are dominated by difficulties with anxiety and inhibited behavior. These disorders are referred to as and include:
Antisocial personality disorder is specifically a pervasive pattern of disregarding and violating the rights of others. This pattern must include at least three of the following specific signs and symptoms:
- Lack of conforming to laws, as evidenced by repeatedly committing crimes
- Repeated deceitfulness in relationships with others, such as lying, using false names, or conning others for profit or pleasure
- Failure to think or plan ahead (impulsivity)
- Tendency to irritability, anger, and aggression, as shown by repeatedly assaulting others or getting into frequent physical fights
- Disregard for personal safety or the safety of others
- Persistent lack of taking responsibility, such as failing to establish a pattern of good work habits or keeping financial obligations
- A lack of feeling guilty about wrong-doing
Other important characteristics of this disorder include that it is not diagnosed in children (individuals younger than 18 years of age), but the person must have shown symptoms of this diagnosis at least since the age of 15 years. Additionally, it cannot be diagnosed if the person only shows symptoms of antisocial personality disorder at the same time they are suffering from schizophrenia or when having a manic episode. This disorder tends to occur in about 1% of women and 3% of men in the United States.
Next: What is the difference between antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy? »
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