Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a deeply ingrained and rigid dysfunctional thought process that focuses on social irresponsibility with exploitive, delinquent, and criminal behaviour that is committed without remorse. This personality disorder manifests symptoms such as failure to conform to the law, inability to sustain consistent employment, deception, manipulation for personal gain, and inability to form stable relationships.
All the ten existing personality disorders are classified into three groups by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5), based on what were thought to be common symptoms between the disorders in each cluster. The three clusters are Cluster A, Cluster B and Cluster C. Antisocial personality disorder is one of four cluster-B disorders, which also include borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders. Each of these disorders is distinguished by dramatic, emotional, and unpredictable interactions with others.
The only personality disorder that cannot be diagnosed in childhood is Antisocial Personality Disorder. To justify diagnostic criteria for ASPD before the age of 18, the patient must have previously been diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD) by the age of 15 years old.
Many researchers and clinicians disagree with this diagnosis, citing significant overlap with other disorders such as psychopathy. Others, however, argue that psychopathy is simply a more severe form of antisocial personality disorder. According to recent literature, individuals with ASPD must be characterised biologically and cognitively to ensure more accurate categorisation and appropriate treatment, despite being a heterogeneous construct that
can subdivide into multiple subtypes that share many similarities and are often comorbid but not synonymous. Individuals may seek therapy to learn how to behave and interact with others.
However, due to the disorder, they are unable to communicate effectively. Individuals with this disorder are typically irritable, aggressive, and appear to be unconcerned about responsibility.
However, not everyone with antisocial personality disorder is a psychopath. Emotions, as with all personality disorders, are the primary focus. There is no one-s-fits-all treatment for ASPD. Medication or psychotherapy, on the other hand, may aid in the control of specific behaviours. According to studies, symptoms of ASPD are most severe between the ages of 24 and 44, and then begin to improve after the age of 45.
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