Antisocial Personality Disorder (cont.)
What happens if antisocial personality disorder is not treated?
Individuals who suffer from antisocial personality disorder have a higher risk of abusing alcohol and other drugs, and repeatedly committing crimes imprisonment as a potential consequence. Persons with antisocial personality disorder are also vulnerable to mood problems, such as major depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder; having other personality disorders, especially borderline (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorders; self-mutilation and other forms of self-harm, as well as dying from homicide, suicide, or accident.
Antisocial personality disorder tends to make virtually any other condition more problematic and difficult to treat. Having antisocial personality disorder makes individuals who also have a substance abuse problem more difficult to help abstain from alcohol or other drug use. People who have both antisocial personality disorder and schizophrenia are less likely to comply with treatment programs and are more likely to remain in an institution like prison or a hospital. These risks become magnified if antisocial personality disorder is not treated. Many persons with antisocial personality disorder experience a remission of symptoms by the time they reach 50 years of age.
- 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.
- Personality disorders are grouped into Clusters A, B, and C based on the dominating symptoms.
- Antisocial personality disorder is specifically a pervasive pattern of disregarding and violating the rights of others and may include symptoms such as breaking laws, frequent lying, starting fights, lack of guilt and taking personal responsibility, and the presence of irritability and impulsivity.
- Psychopathy is considered to be a more severe form of antisocial personality disorder. Specifically, in order to be considered a psychopath, an individual must experience a lack of remorse or guilt about their actions in addition to demonstrating antisocial behaviors.
- Psychopaths tend to be highly suspicious or paranoid, even in comparison to individuals with antisocial personality disorder, which tends to lead the psychopathic person to interpret all aggressive behaviors toward them as being arbitrary and unfair.
- Antisocial personality disorder is likely the result of a combination of biologic/genetic and environmental factors.
- Some theories about the biological risk factors for antisocial personality disorder include dysfunction of certain genes, hormones, or parts of the brain.
- Diagnoses often associated with antisocial personality disorder include substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and reading disorders.
- Theories regarding the life experiences that put people at risk for antisocial personality disorder include a history of childhood physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, deprivation or abandonment; associating with peers who engage in antisocial behavior; or having a parent who is either antisocial or alcoholic.
- Since there is no specific definitive test that can accurately assess the presence of antisocial personality disorder, practitioners conduct a mental health interview that looks for the presence of antisocial symptoms. If the cultural context of the symptoms is not considered, antisocial personality disorder is often falsely diagnosed as being present.
- Research indicates ethnic minorities tend to be falsely diagnosed as having antisocial personality disorder, inappropriately resulting in less treatment and more punishment for those individuals.
- Although antisocial personality disorder can be quite resistant to treatment, the most effective interventions tend to be a combination of firm but fair programming that emphasizes teaching the antisocial personality disorder individuals skills that can be used to live independently and productively within the rules and limits of society.
- While medications do not directly treat the behaviors that characterize antisocial personality disorder, they can be useful in addressing conditions like depression, anxiety, and mood swings that co-occur with this condition.
- If untreated, persons with antisocial personality disorder are at risk for developing or worsening a myriad of other mental disorders. Antisocial personality disorder individuals are also at risk for self mutilation or dying from homicide or suicide.
- Many persons with antisocial personality disorder experience a remission of symptoms by the time they reach 50 years of age.
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