Psychological Disorders: Antisocial Personality Disorder
American
Description
A. There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of
the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, 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
consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
7.
lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing
having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
B. The individual is at least age 18 years.
C> There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age
15 years.
D. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during
the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode.
European
Description
Personality disorder, usually coming to attention because of a gross
disparity between behaviour and the prevailing social norms, and characterized
by at least 3 of the following:
(a)
callous unconcern for the feelings of others;
(b) gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard
for social norms, rules and obligations;
(c) incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no
difficulty in establishing them;
(d) very low tolerance to frustration and a low threshold for discharge
of aggression, including violence;
(e) incapacity to experience guilt and to profit from experience,
particularly punishment;
(f) marked proneness to blame others, or to offer plausible rationalizations,
for the behaviour that has brought the patient into conflict with
society.
There
may also be persistent irritability as an associated feature. Conduct
disorder during childhood and adolescence, though not invariably present,
may further support the diagnosis.
Includes:
* amoral, antisocial, asocial, psychopathic, and sociopathic personality
(disorder)
Excludes:
* conduct disorders
* emotionally unstable personality disorder
Personality
Disorders
A personality disorder is a severe disturbance in the characterological
constitution and behavioural tendencies of the individual, usually
involving several areas of the personality, and nearly always associated
with considerable personal and social disruption. Personality disorder
tends to appear in late childhood or adolescence and continues to
be manifest into adulthood. It is therefore unlikely that the diagnosis
of personality disorder will be appropriate before the age of 16 or
17 years. General diagnostic guidelines applying to all personality
disorders are presented below; supplementary descriptions are provided
with each of the subtypes.
Diagnostic
Guidelines
Conditions not directly attributable to gross brain damage or disease,
or to another psychiatric disorder, meeting the following criteria:
(a)
markedly dysharmonious attitudes and behaviour, involving usually
several areas of functioning, e.g. affectivity, arousal, impulse control,
ways of perceiving and thinking, and style of relating to others;
(b) the abnormal behaviour pattern is enduring, of long standing,
and not limited to episodes of mental illness;
(c) the abnormal behaviour pattern is pervasive and clearly maladaptive
to a broad range of personal and social situations;
(d) the above manifestations always appear during childhood or adolescence
and continue into adulthood;
(e) the disorder leads to considerable personal distress but this
may only become apparent late in its course;
(f) the disorder is usually, but not invariably, associated with significant
problems in occupational and social performance.
For
different cultures it may be necessary to develop specific sets of
criteria with regard to social norms, rules and obligations. For diagnosing
most of the subtypes listed below, clear evidence is usually required
of the presence of at least three of the traits or behaviours given
in the clinical description.