ERIC NIDREW PLAISANCE

Anti-Social Personality Disorder

Background

Antisocial personality disorder is a disorder where a person shows a lack of conscience toward wrongs.

It typically happens in a male and manifests before age 15.

The victim can display violent behavior and sexual aggression.

Symptoms

Behavioral Symptoms Violent and aggressive Sexually abusive Irresponsible Easily agitated Driven by impulse

Actions Breaking laws Lies, steals, or

engages in fights with others

Shows almost complete disregard for others

Does not show any guilt.

Etiology

Environmental influences Traumatic childhood resulting from a catastrophe or

negative event Lack of friendships or social behavior as a child Repetitive antisocial behavior

Genetic factors Inherited traits from shy or angry parents Inherited Personality

Diagnosis

Subjects go through a series of tests in order to be diagnosed.

They go through: Physical Measurements- tests the patient for

irregularities in physical measures such as blood pressure or heart rate.

Laboratory Tests- screening for alcohol, drugs, and any other harmful substances in one’s blood.

Psychological Evaluation- examines behaviors and thoughts

Comorbidity with other disorders

Antisocial personality can also be identified with the traits of many other disorders.

Some of the order disorders include: Depression Anxiety Suicidal behavior Pathological Gambling Somatization Disorder

Treatment

Treatment for the disease is extremely difficult, because there is no definite correct method.

Patients with the disorder usually deny having symptoms, and are quite difficult to deal with.

The main methods of treatment are: psychotherapy, stress/anger management, medication, and hospitalization

1. Psychotherapy The process of consulting with a mental health

specialist in order to identify and understand the problems.

Treatment (cont.)

2. Anger and Stress Management The process of receiving counseling and advice in order to

learn how to cope more efficiently with anger and stress.3. Medication

Mood stabilizing drugs, neuroleptics (anti-psychotic), anti-depressant medication, and anti-anxiety drugs can all help alleviate the victim’s emotional instability.

4. Hospitalization In sever cases, patients may no longer be able to take care

of themselves and must be hospitalized. They will be under the care of physicians and nurses in

order to prevent them from causing further harm to others and themselves.

Statistics

Out of 43,000 sample size, scientists from NIH have found that 14.6% of survey takers qualify for a psychological disorder.

Out of the 14.6% that qualified, 3.6% qualify for antisocial personality disorder, the third most prevalent psychological disorder.

Prognosis

The disorder typically applies to those who have problems conforming to society. As a result, they show more tendency to commit crime and are often imprisoned.

The perception and insight of the diseased also tend to be strongly pessimistic and angry. They typically regard the world as having problems, and as a result are always angry.

Famous People

Charles Manson Serial Killer, convicted

of murders through joint responsibility rules (by association)

Theodore (Ted) Robert Bundy Serial Killer

Jeffrey Dahmer American serial killer

and sex offender

Works Cited

Antisocial Personality Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2010, 18, from Internet Mental Health:

http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe04.html

Antisocial Personality Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2010, from Google Health:

https://health.google.com/health/ref/Antisocial+personality+disorder

Bender, E. (2004, September 3). Personality Disorder Prevalence Surprises Researchers. Retrieved

November 18, 2010, from Psychiatric News: http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/39/17/12.full

Heffner, C. L. (2004, May 14). Psychiatric Disorders: Antisocial Personality Disorder. Retrieved November 17,

2010, from AllPsych Online: http://allpsych.com/disorders/personality/antisocial.html

Myers, D. G. (2007). Psychology. Holland: Worth Publishers.

Staff, M. C. (2010, October 8). Antisocial Personality Disorder. Retrieved November 17, 2010, from

MayoClinic.com : http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antisocial-personality-disorder/DS00829