Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is a mental health disorder (often called a personality disorder) characterised by a pattern of disregard for the rights of other people as well as difficulties maintaing or sustaining long-term relationships.

Along with a history of rule-breaking which may involve frequently breaking the law, a lack of empathy for other people’s feelings is also common which can often be seen in impulsive or aggressive behaviours.

It has been suggested that antisocial personality disorder often appear before the age of 8 and 80% of those diagnosed will have shown the symptoms of ASPD by the time they reach 11 years of age.

Antisocial personality disorder remains a controversial diagnosis because much of what are classified as symptoms appear to be based on social norms and opinions of what acceptable social behaviour ought to look like.

For example, both Muhammad Ali and Dr. Martin Luther King would have been diagnosed as mentally ill during the 1960’s (they both behaved in ways that those policing social behaviours would have deemed antisocial) which many people today might find a rather odd idea.

Man with Antisocial Personality Disorder breaking into house

Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms

In order to meet the diagnostic criteria set out in the DSM manual, those with antisocial personality disorder must demonstrate at least three of the following behaviours:

Failure to conform to social norms or laws.
Deceitfulness and lying.
Using aliases.
Conning people for personal gain and pleasure.
Impulsive behaviours.
Irritability and aggressiveness.
Reckless behaviors that disregard the safety of others.
A Lack of remorse after hurting or mistreating somebody.

As with all mental health disorders, many of the symptoms associated with antisocial personality disorders can be seen across the entire population and do not indicate mental illness.

It is the frequency and severity of these symptoms that defines the difference between normality and pathology.

A certain degree of social conformance is, of course, necessary in order to maintain a social structure in which people can live their lives without fear but what is and what is not socially acceptable can be highly subjective.

Antisocial Personality Disorder diagnosis banner

Diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Technically, only a psychiatrist can diagnose an Antisocial Personality Disorder, but in the UK general practitioners have tended to diagnose mental health problems by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

The DSM lists specific symptoms against a range of disorders and whenever a person meets this criteria, they are aid to be suffering from that disorder.

Diagnostic procedures do NOT make use of medical testing (for example blood tests) in order to produce a diagnosis, but rather is an opinion based on the observation of certain behaviours in the person who is suffering.

Because of this lack of verifiable medical testing, diagnosis remains a controversial subject, particularly within the psychological community.

However, in the UK access to support services is often contingent on receiving a diagnosis, so in this sense, a formal diagnosis may be useful.

Getting a Mental Health Diagnosis

Please be aware that Tranceform Psychology do not diagnose mental health disorders.

Our psychological counselling services do not require you to have been formally diagnosed but should you wish to obtain a formal mental health diagnosis, then please contact your GP who can arrange it for you.

Therapy & Counselling for Antisocial Personality Disorder

We generally recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Antisocial Personality Disorder which you can read about below.

CBT for Antisocial Personality Disorder

If you’re committed to overcoming your Antisocial Personality Disorder then we highly recommend following our Tranceformental CBT 10 session programme.

The Tranceformental programme is a highly successful & pragmatic course of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) run over 10 sessions, that will teach you everything you need to know to understand the psychological aspects of your problem.

It can also help you to identify any unhelpful thinking styles or limiting beliefs that might be reinforcing the issue.

The programme is also available as an online self-help CBT programme. if you prefer not to consult a therapist directly.

CBT is an empirically supported approach used by mental health practitioners around the World.

Free Initial Consultations for Antisocial Personality Disorder

We offer all prospective clients a FREE initial consultation to discuss your Antisocial Personality Disorder prior to commencing any treatment plans.

The consultation is free and lasts around 50 minutes.

During this consultation we will discuss the various therapy options that are available to you and make a considered recommendation based on your individual personal circumstances.

Initial consultations are also available as part of our online therapy service.

At Tranceform Psychology we recognise the importance of the therapeutic relationship in helping people to bring about effective change, so its important to be able to ‘meet’ to discuss any therapy treatments BEFORE proceeding.

Our policy is to help people make a fully balanced & considered decision about undertaking work with us, including both the financial and personal implications.