Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder
Individuals with antisocial personality disorder:- May begin displaying symptoms during childhood. Such behaviors include fire setting, cruelty to animals, and difficulty with authority.
- Often have legal problems resulting from failures to conform to social norms and a lack of concern for the rights of others.
- Often act out impulsively and fail to consider the consequences of their actions.
- Display aggressiveness and irritability that often lead to physical assaults.
- Have difficulty feeling empathy for others. This inability to consider the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of other people can lead to disregard for others.
- Display a lack of remorse for damaging behavior.
Treatments for Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Those with antisocial personality disorder rarely seek out treatment on their own. Individuals generally receive treatment only after some type of altercation with the legal system.
- Cognitive therapy can be useful in helping individuals gain insight into their behaviors and to change maladaptive thought patterns.
- Effective results usually occur only after long-term treatment.
Overview of Personality Disorders
