Antisocial personality disorder is a mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal.

1. Fitango Education
Health Topics
Antisocial Personality Disorder
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2. Overview
Antisocial personality disorder is a mental health
condition in which a person has a long-term
pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the
rights of others. This behavior is often criminal.
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3. Symptoms
A person with antisocial personality disorder may:
• Be able to act witty and charming
• Be good at flattery and manipulating other
people's emotions
• Break the law repeatedly
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4. Symptoms
• Disregard the safety of self and others
• Have problems with substance abuse
• Lie, steal, and fight often
• Not show guilt or remorse
• Often be angry or arrogant
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5. Symptoms
Like other personality disorders, antisocial
personality disorder is diagnosed based on a
psychological evaluation and the history and
severity of symptoms. To be diagnosed with
antisocial personality disorder, a person must have
had conduct disorder during childhood.
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6. Diagnosis
For a doctor to be sure that a patient's behavior is
not due to an existing organic condition three
different diagnostic technics are employed.
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7. Diagnosis
**Laboratory tests**
Which will include a CBC or complete blood
count, a check of thyroid function and tests for
substances such as recreational drugs and alcohol.
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8. Diagnosis
**Physical exam**
This will include typical exams done on a routine
check up such as checking vital signs, listening to
the heart and lungs; taking height and weight and
examining the abdomen** **
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9. Diagnosis
**Psychological evaluation**
A psychiatrist or mental health provider will ask
about thoughts, feelings, relationships and
behavior patterns. There will be questions about
symptoms, when they started, their severity, how
they impact daily life and whether similar
symptoms have occurred in the past. Thoughts of
suicide, self-injury or harming others will also be
examined.
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10. Diagnosis
**Psychological evaluation**
To be diagnosed with antisocial personality
disorder, a person must meet the symptom criteria
for that disorder listed in the "Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM).
Symptom criteria for antisocial personality
disorder from the DSM:
Being at least 18 years old
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11. Diagnosis
**Psychological evaluation**
Having had conduct disorder before age 15, that
included acts such as
stealing, vandalism, violence, cruelty to animals
and bullying
Repeatedly breaking the law
Repeatedly conning or lying to others
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12. Diagnosis
**Psychological evaluation**
Being irritable and aggressive, repeatedly engaging
in physical fights or assaults
Feeling no remorse after harming others, needing
no justification
Acting with no regard for the safety of yourself or
others
Acting impulsively
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13. Diagnosis
**Psychological evaluation**
Those with antisocial personality disorder will not
provide an accurate account of these signs and
symptoms to a doctor. Evidence for the diagnosis
is gathered by asking the family or friends of the
patient detailed questions about the person's
interactions and daily life.
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14. Treatment
Antisocial personality disorder is one of the most
difficult personality disorders to treat. People with
this condition rarely seek treatment on their own.
They may only start therapy when required to by a
court.
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15. Treatment
The effectiveness of treatment for antisocial
personality disorder is not known. Treatments that
show the person the negative consequences of
illegal behavior seem to hold the most promise.
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16. Causes
The causes of antisocial personality disorder are
unknown. Genetic factors and child abuse are
believed to contribute to the development of this
condition. People with an antisocial or alcoholic
parent are at increased risk. Far more men than
women are affected. The condition is common in
people who are in prison.
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17. Causes
Fire-setting and cruelty to animals during
childhood are linked to the development of
antisocial personality.
Some people believe that psychopathic personality
(psychopathy) is the same disorder. Others believe
that psychopathic personality is a similar but more
severe disorder.
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18. Additional Resources
PubMed Health
Psychology Today
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