What is Antisocial personality disorder?
People with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) have severe problems with the way they relate to others. An antisocial personality disorder is a mental health condition in which a person ignores the feelings of others. They often have little to no regard for right or wrong
People with this disorder tend to treat other people with aggression and callousness. They are also prone to manipulate and cheat those around them. After hurting others with their actions, they display no regret.
While there is no clear cut prevention, identifying early signals provides the best hope for the future.
What are some symptoms you will see in people with antisocial personality behavior?
When you see the following attitudes in people, there is a decent chance that they are suffering from ASPD:
- They are abusive and hostile towards family members and work colleagues.
- They get angry for any small reason.
- There is no showing of remorse after hurting someone physically or emotionally.
- There is a tendency to attack and beat up other people.
- People with ASPD tell lies to manipulate and deceive other people.
- They have a sense of pride and unnecessary superiority over other people.
- They display no respect for obeying the rules and regulations in the community.
What are the possible causes of antisocial personality disorder?
It’s quite difficult to highlight a specific cause of this disorder. Understanding people’s personalities can be a bit complex. However, some reasons for ASPD could be:
- Living or growing up in an abusive environment. Children that grow up with an alcoholic parent are prone to developing ASPD.
- Genetic makeup and injuries to the brain’s development could be significant factors.
When can a person be diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder?
Many people already begin displaying signs before the age of 15. Some of these behaviors you could look out for include:
- Disrespect towards other people
- They hurt other kids and pets
- Lying and theft
However, at this age, you can’t conclude that the person is suffering from ASPD. A full diagnosis can only be performed at the age of 18.
What are the possible complications you would expect from a person with ASPD?
There are consequences of the behaviors of a person suffering from ASPD. Some of them are given below:
- They have a high probability of committing crimes and ending up in jail.
- The chance of committing suicide is very high.
- Such people might not be capable of being financially stable.
- People with ASPD cannot live appropriately with their spouses and children.
How can antisocial personality disorder be treated?
You may assume that there is no treatment for antisocial personality disorder. However, this is not entirely true. It is possible to treat this mental disorder.
With the right therapy, there can be a significant amount of improvement. However, an antisocial personality disorder is a hard type of disorder to address. People with ASPD will most likely not want to receive treatment.
When treating ASPD, the factors taken into consideration include the patient’s age and other addictions with drugs or alcohol. If you want to take care of someone with this disorder, you and other family members play a significant role. The following types of treatments are used on individuals with antisocial personality disorder:
- Mentalization-based therapy: This makes ASPD patients consider their mental state before acting.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This treatment helps a person by making them think about their actions appropriately.
As of now, there is no recommended medication for antisocial personality disorder. However, doctors may prescribe mood stabilizers or antidepressants.