What is Antisocial Personality Disorder?
Antisocial personality disorder is a heterogeneous developmental disorder that can be seen in almost every country; it starts in childhood and can continue into adulthood, and is characterized by a widespread disregard for and violation of the rights of others. In studies conducted on the general population based on psychiatrist interviews, the lifetime prevalence of antisocial personality disorder was determined to be 3.3% in men and 0.9% in women. Antisocial personality disorder has been accepted as a mental disorder for nearly 200 years, and this diagnosis cannot be made to people under the age of 18. The main characteristic of antisocial personality disorder is that it exhibits recurrent antisocial and criminal behaviors that begin in childhood or early adolescence and spread to all areas of life, such as school, work and social relationships.
The conduct disorder of an antisocial person peaks between the ages of 24 and 44, then declines sharply. Antisocial personality shares many characteristics with narcissistic personality, and is sometimes even seen as a subtype of narcissistic personality. The specific characteristics of conduct disorder, one of the most common diagnoses in childhood and adolescence, consist of four categories;
1. Aggression towards people and animals,
2. Do not damage the goods,
3. Fraud or theft,
4. Serious violation of the rules.
What Causes Antisocial Personality Disorder?
In addition to the negative variables such as serious marital problems in the environment and family, low socioeconomic status, large family, criminal behavior in the father, and mental disorders in the mother, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in the child are risk factors for antisocial personality disorder, but it is known that they are not only related to these factors. Gene-environment interaction also plays an important role in the development of these disorders. Although there are views that sociocultural factors have a great effect on the formation of antisocial personality disorder and that criminal behavior is a learned and adaptive situation, biological causality has been increasingly strengthened in recent years. As a result, the interaction of various genetic, biological, psychodynamic and psychosocial factors with each other is gaining importance in the formation of antisocial personality disorder.
Is Antisocial Personality Disorder Genetic?
The question of whether antisocial personality disorder is genetic or environmental is a difficult one. In recent years, genetic factors have become more important. Many studies have shown a relationship between alcoholism and sociopathy in first-degree relatives of antisocial individuals, and more antisocial relatives have been identified in antisocial adults than in controls. Adoption studies reveal that genetic and environmental factors are both risks for this disorder. So, what happens biologically in the brain that makes people antisocial? It has been observed that a person who has not previously exhibited any behavioral problems begins to exhibit antisocial behavior as a result of trauma to the prefrontal cortex of the brain. According to Damasio, patients who are defined as "acquired sociopathy" begin to exhibit socially inappropriate and aggressive behavior after brain damage.
The Role of Psychosocial and Environmental Factors in Antisocial Personality Disorder
Studies have shown that antisocial personality disorder is closely related to low levels of education, job changes, irregular marriages, and lack of deep attachments. Urbanization is a significant risk factor for antisocial personality disorder. Studies of antisocial children show that they mostly come from large families. Presumably, the presence of other male children in families contributes to the development of antisocial behavior, while the presence of female children in families has the opposite effect.
How Is Antisocial Personality Disorder Treated?
Individuals with antisocial personality disorder rarely seek help for this condition. Attempts to treat these individuals often yield disappointing results. On the other hand, specific symptoms, including violent behavior, can be managed through specific treatment interventions (stress, anger management, etc.). It is noteworthy that antisocial individuals establish therapeutic rapport with psychotherapists who promise hope for their future. This contrasts with the traditional idea that these individuals cannot draw conclusions from dangerous events. Although the likelihood of antisocial personality disorder responding to hospitalization is low, the course of treatable anxiety or depression symptoms can improve. The early establishment of a bond between the person with antisocial personality disorder and the psychotherapist is very important for the course of treatment.
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