Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), also referred to as sociopathy or psychopathy, is a personality disorder characterized by pervasive and persistent disregard for morality, social and cultural norms, and the violation of the human rights and feelings of others. Criminal activity and abuse is common.

People with ASPD are unlikely to seek help because they don’t believe they need it.

Prevalence

1% to 4% of the population has ASPD. The male to female ratio is 3:1.

  • 3% to 30% of mental health outpatients have ASPD.
  • About 65% of incarcerated women and 80% of incarcerated men have ASPD.
  • 27% to 60% of alcoholics and drug addicts have ASPD, depending on how many substances they are addicted to.
  • A high number of CEOs of large companies have some ASPD symptoms.

Prevention

The earlier signs of ASPD are noticed —preferably before the teen years — the sooner psychotherapy can begin to address thought patterns, behavior, response to conflict, and problem-solving skills.

Sources MAYO CLINIC – Symptoms and Causes | MEDLINE – Antisocial Personality Disorder | NHS – Antisocial Personality Disorder | NICE – Antisocial personality disorder: prevention and management | DSM-5 – Antisocial Prevalance | PSYCHOLOGY TODAY – Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms, Causes and Treatment | LUMEN LEARNING – Antisocial Personality Disorder | ALLENPRESS – Antisocial Personality DisorderTreatment Guidelines | Zoccolillo M, Pickles A, Quinton D, Rutter M (November 1992). “The outcome of childhood conduct disorder: implications for defining adult personality disorder and conduct disorder”. Psychological Medicine. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. 22 (4): 971–86. | National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). Antisocial Personality Disorder: Treatment, Management and Prevention. Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society; 2010. (NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 77.) 2, ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER. | Korten, David (2001), When Corporations Rule the World (Berret-Kohler Publications)