Antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder

On this page

ASPD 101 - Rule Breakers & Heartbreakers

  • Pervasive disregard for and violation of the rights of others since age 15.
  • Must be ≥18 years old for diagnosis, with evidence of Conduct Disorder before age 15.
  • Key traits: deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, aggression, and a profound lack of remorse.

📌 Mnemonic: CORRUPT

  • Cannot follow laws
  • Obligations ignored
  • Reckless disregard for safety
  • Remorseless
  • Underhanded (deceitful)
  • Planning insufficient (impulsive)
  • Temper/aggressiveness

⭐ High comorbidity with Substance Use Disorders and incarceration. Often ego-syntonic, so patients rarely seek help voluntarily.

DSM-5 Criteria - The 'CORRUPT' Checklist

A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others since age 15, indicated by ≥3 of the following:

📌 CORRUPT

  • Conformity failure: Not conforming to social norms and laws; repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
  • Obligations ignored: Irresponsibility; failure to sustain consistent work or honor financial obligations.
  • Reckless disregard: For the safety of self or others.
  • Remorseless: Indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
  • Underhanded: Deceitfulness, lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
  • Planning failure: Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
  • Temper: Irritability and aggressiveness; repeated physical fights or assaults.

Diagnostic Rules:

  • Individual is at least age 18.
  • Evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15.

⭐ The distinction between Antisocial Personality Disorder and Conduct Disorder is primarily age-based. ASPD cannot be diagnosed in individuals younger than 18 years old.

Etiology & Associations - Nature, Nurture & Nastiness

  • Genetic: Strong heritability; variants in genes like MAOA linked to aggression, especially with childhood maltreatment.
  • Neurobiologic: ↓ CNS arousal (low resting heart rate), underactive prefrontal cortex (impaired judgment), and amygdala dysfunction (decreased fear conditioning).
  • Environmental: Inconsistent parenting, childhood abuse/neglect, and poverty are significant risk factors.
  • Associations: High rates of substance use disorders, somatic symptom disorder, and other Cluster B personality disorders.

⭐ A history of Conduct Disorder before age 15 is a mandatory diagnostic criterion.

Clinical Aspects of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Management - A High-Risk Tightrope

Treatment is challenging due to low insight and motivation. The focus is on managing behavior and treating comorbidities rather than curing the disorder.

  • Psychotherapy (First-line): Cornerstone of management.
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addresses distorted thinking patterns and behaviors.
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Useful for managing anger and emotional dysregulation.
    • Therapists must set firm, consistent boundaries.
  • Pharmacotherapy (Adjunctive): No primary medication for ASPD; used for associated symptoms.
    • SSRIs for comorbid depression and anxiety.
    • Mood stabilizers or 2nd-gen antipsychotics to reduce impulsivity and aggression.

⭐ Pharmacotherapy targets comorbid conditions like depression or impulsivity, not the core lack of empathy or manipulativeness of ASPD.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15.
  • Patients must be at least 18 years old for diagnosis and have a history of Conduct Disorder.
  • Key features include deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggressiveness, irresponsibility, and a profound lack of remorse.
  • Often associated with criminal behavior and substance use disorders.
  • Treatment is difficult; psychotherapy (like CBT) is the preferred approach, but insight is limited.

Practice Questions: Antisocial personality disorder

Test your understanding with these related questions

An 8-year-old boy is brought in by his mother who is concerned about her child’s behavior. She says his teachers have complained about him bullying other students at school, starting fights, and stealing other children’s lunch money. She also says that a neighbor down the street called her 6 months ago and reported that the patient had entered her yard and started viciously kicking her dog. He has no significant past medical history. He is in the 90th percentile for height and weight and has been meeting all developmental milestones. The patient is afebrile and his vital signs are within normal limits. Which of the following adult personality disorders does this patient’s diagnosis most likely predict?

1 of 5

Flashcards: Antisocial personality disorder

1/6

People with cluster _____ personality disorders are described as dramatic, emotional, or erratic

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

People with cluster _____ personality disorders are described as dramatic, emotional, or erratic

B

browseSpaceflip

Enjoying this lesson?

Get full access to all lessons, practice questions, and more.

Start Your Free Trial