Antisocial Personality Disorder
Sydney Pierce, Health-5, due 10/14/16
Don't be insane, let a psychiatrist check your brain.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is defined as a diagnosis applied to persons who routinely behave with little or no regard for the rights, safety, or feelings of others.
Causes
There is no known specific cause of ASPD but it is believed to be caused by genetic and/or environmental factors. Environmental factors may include things such as addiction to drugs and/or alcohol by parents, sexual abuse, or physical abuse.
Symptoms
- extreme disregard for people and their rights
- lying and cheating to get what is desired
- disregard for authority
- impulsiveness
- aggressiveness
- deceitful
- irritable
- unremorseful
ASPD is more commonly found in men. It is diagnosed at around 18 years of age and persists into adulthood.
Treatments
- behavior therapy (modifying harmful behaviors)
- psychotherapy (treatment of mental or behavior disorders)
Medications
While there are no medications to treat ASPD itself, they can be given to treat symptoms.
- fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)- decrease aggressiveness and irritability if anxiety or depression are present
- nortripyline- help reduce misuse of alcohol
- phenytoin- reduce intensity of impulsive aggressive acts
AGENCIES
UT Southwestern Psychotherapy Referral Service
- 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas 75390
- 214-618-7012
SMU Center for Family Counseling
- 5228 Tennyson Park Pkwy #103, Plano 75024
- 972-473-3456
Galaxy Counseling Center
- 1025 South Jupiter Rd, Garland 75041
- 972-272-4429
Background
People who have ASPD tend to be considered outgoing, funny, and charming by people that know them.About 7.6 million people in the United States have ASPD. 25% of people diagnosed with ASPD have psychopathic tendencies. 90% of people diagnosed with ASPD are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD before the age of 10 have a greater chance of developing ASPD.