Antisocial Personality Disorder

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Xavia Malcolm

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a long-term or chronic pattern of irresponsible, impulsive, or criminal behaviors.

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is estimated to affect 1 to 4% of adults in the United States, and it is more commonly diagnosed in men than in women. The exact cause of ASPD is not fully understood; however, it is believed that factors such as traumatic experiences, genetics, and childhood abuse or neglect may contribute to its development.

People with ASPD often display the following behaviors or signs:

A lack of guilt or remorse
Inability to control anger
Repeatedly breaking the law
Manipulative behavior
Aggressive behavior
Reckless behavior
Feeling superior to others or more powerful than others
Not taking responsibility for harmful actions
Lying
Stealing
Fighting or assaulting people
Difficulty sustaining long-term relationships
Having problems with substance misuse
Blaming others for the problems in their lives

ASPD may look different for each person and is on a spectrum, meaning that these behaviors range in severity.

The consequences or complications associated with ASPD can include financial problems, imprisonment, domestic violence, attempting to kill others or suicide, and alcohol and drug misuse.

Diagnosing ASPD is based on medical history, symptoms, and a mental health evaluation. A diagnosis is usually made after the age of 18 by a mental health provider. Treatment may involve medications or cognitive behavioral therapy.

To schedule an appointment with a mental health provider at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call (718) 670-5316.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

What Is Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Xavia Malcolm

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a long-term pattern of irresponsible, impulsive or often criminal behaviors.

A person with ASPD is typically deceitful, manipulative or reckless. They consistently show no regard for the law, what is right or wrong, or the rights or feelings of others. Someone with ASPD generally has no guilt or remorse for the harm they have caused others.

Individuals with this disorder can also be very charming or charismatic, traits they often use to manipulate people.

Additional signs and symptoms of ASPD can include having a history of:

Lying persistently
Having poor or abusive relationships
Having difficulty sustaining long-term relationships
Not caring for the safety of others or oneself
Never accepting responsibility and blaming others for one’s problems
Failing to fulfill money, work or social duties
Repeatedly breaking the law
Abusing drugs or alcohol
Being irritable or aggressive

It is not known why some people develop antisocial personality disorder and others do not. Genetic factors and traumatic childhood experiences such as child abuse are believed to play a role. Men are more likely to develop the disorder than women.

Antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed by a mental health provider who conducts a psychological evaluation that explores behavior patterns, family history, relationship patterns, medical history as well as symptoms listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of ASPD, do not hesitate to get help. You can schedule an appointment with a mental health professional at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, by calling (718) 670-5562.

Learning the Facts About Antisocial Personality Disorder

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Michael Hinck

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a mental condition where an individual consistently displays no regard for right from wrong and is indifferent to the feelings of others.

In some cases, those with ASPD can appear witty, charming, and generally fun to be around, but they may also lie, antagonize, manipulate, or exploit others and not feel guilty about the consequences of their actions. They may also act destructively without regard for the law, or for their safety of the safety of others.

Modern diagnostic systems consider ASPD to include two related but not identical conditions:

A “psychopath” is someone whose hurtful actions toward others tend to reflect calculation, manipulation and cunning; they also tend not to feel emotion and mimic (rather than experience) empathy for others. They can be deceptively charismatic and charming.

By contrast, a “sociopath” has more of an ability to form attachments to others but still disregards social rules; they tend to be more impulsive, haphazard, and easily agitated than people with psychopathy.

People with ASPD may often do the following:

Lie, con, and exploit others
Act rashly
Be angry, vain, and aggressive
Fight or assault other people
Break the law
Not care about the safety of others or themselves
Not show signs of remorse after hurting someone else
Fail to meet money, work, or social duties
Abuse drugs or alcohol

ASPD is uncommon, affecting less than 1% of the population. It affects men more than women. While there is no direct cause of ASPD, genetics is considered a possible factor, as is exposure to a traumatic or abusive atmosphere as a child. Brain defects and injuries during developmental years may also be linked to ASPD.

A diagnosis of ASPD cannot be made until age 18, though to be identified as having the disorder a person would have to have shown symptoms before age 15. Symptoms of ASPD are usually at their worst during a person’s late teenage years and in their 20s, but may improve on their own over time.

Unfortunately, many people with ASPD don’t seek help for the condition because they don’t believe they need assistance, but for those seeking treatment for ASPD, participation in either individual or group therapy has proven to be beneficial. A mental health professional may also prescribe certain psychiatric medications like mood stabilizers or some atypical antipsychotics to treat symptoms like impulsive aggression.

If someone close to you has ASPD, consider seeking help for the disorder from a mental health professional. To make an appointment at the mental health clinic at xx Hospital, please call 718-670-5562.