Antisocial Personality Disorder is a mental disorder, also known as psychopathy, which is characterized by a pattern of indifference behavior and violation of the rights of others. Generally, these people are aggressive, insensitive and have great difficulty in adapting to the rules of society, disrespecting them and violating them.
The underlying causes may be hereditary, related to deficiencies in the person's brain structures, or even influenced by the environment.
What are the signs and symptoms
The antisocial or psychopath is a person who lacks empathy and is insensitive to the feelings of others, violating their rights and being unable to comply with the rules imposed by society, because they have no capacity to perceive the suffering of others, and may still have criminal behavior, since these people have no remorse for the violent acts committed, which makes this mental disorder so dangerous. Here's how to identify a psychopath.
These people do not seem to understand or care about what society considers right or wrong, behaving inadequately, without showing any kind of regret for their actions. They have difficulties in following a life plan, constantly changing jobs and not knowing how to manage their expenses.
Early signs of antisocial personality disorder arise in infancy or early adolescence, where children begin to exhibit inappropriate behaviors, violating other people's basic rights and age-appropriate and relevant social rules. If this disorder remains in adult life, it is very likely that the individual will be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.
They are also common acts like theft, theft, property destruction, disrespect for people, compulsive lies, impulsiveness, aggression and manipulation, and these people are able to do anything to get what they want.
Antisocial personality disorder is a chronic disorder, but it is possible to observe an improvement in the behavior of some people as they grow older, but it is common for them to be arrested before that, even at young age due to crimes committed.
How is the diagnosis made?
Antisocial personality disorder is difficult to diagnose, as there is great difficulty in distinguishing it from other mental disorders with some similar symptoms, such as schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, presence of lesions and tumors in the brain, or even the use of psychoactive substances, and therefore, all these factors should be excluded before the diagnosis is confirmed.
An interview is usually held, also taking into account the person's history, which can be done with the help of reports from the patient and close relatives, as well as the collection of information about the family history due to hereditary factors.
How do you know if a person is antisocial?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists the following criteria for the diagnosis of the disorder:
1. Contempt and violation of the rights of others, occurring since the age of 15, indicated by 3 or more of the following:
- Difficulty in obeying social norms, having behaviors that are grounds for detention;
- Tend to falsity, using repeated lies, false names or having fraudulent behavior for personal pleasure;
- Impulsiveness or failure to make plans for the future;
- Irritability and aggressiveness, resulting in physical strife and aggression;
- Indifference to one's own safety or that of others;
- Irresponsibility to remain consistent in work or honor financial obligations;
- No remorse for having hurt, mistreated or stolen other people.
2. The individual is at least 18 years of age;
3. Evidence of behavioral disorder that arose before the age of 15;
4. Antisocial behavior that does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
How is the treatment done?
Uncovering the origins of the problem is the first step in preventing it. Another factor that contributes to the improvement of the person's behavior with the disorder is linked to the formation of affective bonds, such as marriage, for example.
The treatment for this disorder is difficult to do and depends on the severity of the symptoms, the willingness of the person to be treated and their collaboration in the treatment and can be done with psychotherapy and medication.
There are as yet no specific medications for antisocial personality disorder but the doctor may prescribe medications that are usually used to treat anxiety and depression, or control aggressive behavior, however, one should be very careful because some people can do abusive use of these drugs.
Possible causes
The causes of this disorder are not yet fully understood, but it is thought that antisocial disorder may be hereditary, and children of people with antisocial disorder have a higher risk of developing it as well. In addition, there may be deficiencies in the brain structures of these people, and the environment also plays an important role in the manifestation of this behavior.
The disorder may also be a result of factors during gestation, which can alter the baby's brain development, such as the use of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages or illicit substances by the pregnant woman, which have a negative impact on the fetus, as well as insufficient intake of nutrients such as proteins, iron, zinc, omega-3. Learn how to have a healthy pregnancy.
During the development of the child, the family environment in which it is inserted also contributes to its emotional development, and it is very important that an early relationship is established between the mother and the child, since separation, mistreatment and neglect at this point in the child's life, can be reflected later in adulthood, which can make them aggressive and increase the chances of developing antisocial personality disorder.
