Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
In psychology, antisocial personality disorder means someone who feels no remorse or guilt for their actions and who continuously violates other people's rights without considering the consequences.
Many people who are diagnosed are 18 years or older with a history of behavioural problems, like robbery and aggressiveness towards animals. Psychopathy is often seen as a more severe form of antisocial personality disorder.
In this blog we cover fundamental aspects of what are the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder, what are the complications of antisocial personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder symptoms.
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What Causes Antisocial Personality Disorder?
The exact reasons or causes for antisocial personality disorder are not clear, but it is linked to both environmental factors and genetics. With mental health disorders, we don't know what causes the disorder.
However, rather we see certain associations, so certain factors seem to be consistently associated with the development of ASPD, like:
1. Genetic factor: ASPD is found to be more frequent among first-degree relatives of individuals with this disorder than in the general public. Research indicates that most probably people with ASPD inherit the disease.
2. Environmental factor: An environmental factor is if a child is treated badly. This can mean not receiving enough love or care, or being abused physically or sexually. It can also mean witnessing violence between the parents.
What Are the Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder?
Antisocial personality disorder lies on a spectrum, which means that the severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. Some of the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder are:
- They Misunderstand Social Interactions: People with antisocial personality disorder have a skewed social compass. They might misunderstand some of the things that are said to them. For example, they will hear an insult or mockery in a situation that is in fact not insulting or mocking at all.
- They Are Prone to Hostility: People with antisocial personality disorder may always generalise that others have done them wrong, even when this is not the case. They will first dismiss what you are saying and then decipher something that has nothing to do with what you were trying to convey. They might be distressed and on edge, causing them to lash out with hostility and anger.
- They Can be Very Manipulative: People with antisocial personality disorder can repel others. People with this personality disorder are also prone to misreading other signals, which can cause a lot of misunderstandings. To counter this, they master the art of manipulation. For instance, they encourage you to invest your time with them or trick you into providing them with what they want, even though it could only be for their entertainment.
- They Tend to Lie: Lying is a tool they can use for personal gain. To someone with antisocial personality disorder, the survival of a relationship is vital as long as it continues to serve their needs or desires. They use deceit and lying as strategies to help them achieve that.
- They are very impulsive: Those who have this disorder are extremely impulsive, and they reach a point in their lives where they end up being hospitalised or imprisoned.
- They indulge in repeated risky behaviour: These people have an impulsive nature; their decision-making abilities are rather spontaneous, and this is not necessarily good for them. For instance, they can involve themselves in criminal activities, including theft and arson.
How to Diagnose Antisocial Personality Disorder?
To be diagnosed with ASPD, a person would have to show symptoms before the age of 15. A diagnosis can't be made until the age of 18. Though symptoms are usually at their worst during a person's late teenage years and in their 20s, they may improve on their own over time. The diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder is a psychological evaluation that explores thoughts, feelings, relationships, behaviour patterns, and personal, medical, and family history.
How to Treat Antisocial Personality Disorder?
People with ASPD rarely seek help on their own because they often think they don't need it. Antisocial personality disorder treatment is multi-disciplined and, depending on the patient's symptoms, appropriate treatment. The treatment uses a combination of therapies and medications.
- Psychotherapy: Talking therapy, which helps change the way people think and act, might be the best kind of treatment for ASPD.
- Multisystemic Therapy (MST): Group therapy for families to help with serious antisocial behaviours and illegal actions in teens aged 12 to 17.
- Functional Family Therapy (FFT): Family therapy for young people aged 11 to 18 who might be at risk, aimed at reducing harm and strengthening support within the family.
- Antipsychotic medicines: Risperidone (Risperdal) or Quetiapine (Seroquel).
- Antidepressants: Sertraline (Zoloft) and Fluoxetine (Prozac), which are types of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
- Mood stabilisers: lithium or carbamazepine (Tegretol).
How to Live With Antisocial Personality Disorder?
Most people with antisocial personality disorder have had problems with behaviour when they were younger. If you find out you have ASPD, you might already know the best ways to handle it. If you're having a hard time or want more ideas to get better at health and relationships, here are four tips:
- Take care of yourself regularly: Self-care is different for everyone, but it should always aim for the same goals: It involves knowing what you are thinking and feeling, bearing difficult situations, and coping with stress. Not sure how to begin. Try talking nicely to yourself, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and doing fun things like writing or cooking.
- Stop using alcohol and drugs: This advice is useful for everyone, especially for those with a mental health problem, like antisocial personality disorder. According to numerous studies, individuals with ASPD are more inclined to abuse alcohol and develop alcohol dependency. Also, studies show that people with ASPD might be more likely to act aggressively when they drink alcohol.
- Stick to your treatment plan: This means you get a treatment plan and a team of carers that are designed just for you and your needs. If you start feeling better, do not change your treatment without consulting your doctor.
- Educate your friends and family: Some signs of ASPD can make it hard to make and keep friends. Without any background information, behaviours like trying to control others and getting angry can make people uncomfortable. Talking about ASPD with your family, friends, or coworkers can help them understand the condition and explain why you might behave a certain way.