Common characteristics of people with antisocial personality disorder

Common characteristics of people with antisocial personality disorder include:

• Persistent lying or stealing


• Recurring difficulties with the law


• Tendency to violate the rights of others (property, physical, sexual, emotional, legal)


• Aggressive, often violent behavior; prone to getting involved in fights


• Inability to keep a job


• A persistent agitated or depressed feeling (dysphoria)


• Inability to tolerate boredom


• Disregard for the safety of self or others


• A childhood diagnosis of conduct disorders


• Lack of remorse for hurting others


• Superficial charm


• Impulsiveness


• A sense of extreme entitlement


• Inability to make or keep friends


• Lack of guilt


• Recklessness, impulsivity [8] [6]

Antisocial personality disorder (abbreviated APD or ASPD) is a psychiatric diagnosis in the DSM-IV-TR recognizable by the disordered individual’s disregard for social rules and norms, impulsive behavior, and indifference to the rights and feelings of others. The World Health Organization’s ICD-10 diagnostic manual uses dissocial personality disorder instead. The concept psychopathy (not to be confused with psychosis) generally denotes a related but more severe personality disorder.

Sociopathy is sometimes claimed to be a less formal synonym for this disorder based on terminology from an older edition of the DSM. Various experts have co-opted the terms psychopathy and sociopathy inconsistently to mark differences in meaning they believe are theoretically important although there is a consensus that both terms refer to personality disorders with prominent norm-breaking and socially disruptive behavior.[citation needed]

 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental and behavioral disorders, defines antisocial personality disorder as a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

1.   failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest

2.   deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure

3.   impulsivity or failure to plan ahead

4.   irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults

5.   reckless disregard for safety of self or others

6.   consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligations

7.   lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another

The manual lists the following additional necessary criteria:

·      The individual is at least 18 years of age.

·      There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.

·      The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode.

Hare, R.D., Hart, S.D., Harpur, T.J. Psychopathy and the DSM—IV Criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder

Paranoid personality disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that denotes a personality disorder with paranoid features. It is characterized by an exaggerated sensitivity to rejection, resentfulness, distrust, as well as the inclination to distort experienced events. Neutral and friendly actions of others are often misinterpreted as being hostile or contemptuous. Unfounded suspicions regarding the sexual loyalty of partners and loyalty in general as well as the belief that one’s rights are not being recognized is stubbornly and argumentatively insisted upon. Such individuals can possess an excessive self-assurance and a tendency toward an exaggerated self-reference. The use of the term paranoia in this context is not meant to refer to the presence of frank delusions or psychosis, but implies the presence of ongoing, unbased suspiciousness and distrust of people.

·      301.00 Paranoid Personality Disorder

A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

·      suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her

·      is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates

·      is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her

·      reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events

·      persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights

·      perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack

·      has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.

Exclusionary conditions

·      Does not occur exclusively during the course of a mood disorder with psychotic features, schizophrenia, or another psychotic disorder.

·      Is not due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition.

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