Which drugs may be used to help reduce impulsiveness and aggressiveness in people diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder?

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for consequences and for the rights of others.

• People with antisocial personality disorder go after what they want without considering the consequences for themselves or others and without feeling any remorse or guilt.

• Doctors diagnose antisocial personality disorder based on symptoms, including disregard for consequences and for the rights of others and use of deceit and/or manipulation to get what they want.

People with antisocial personality disorder may commit unlawful, deceitful, exploitative, and reckless acts for personal profit or pleasure and without remorse. They may

• Justify or rationalize their behavior (for example, they may think that "losers deserved to lose")

• Blame the victim for being foolish or helpless

• Be indifferent to the exploitative and harmful effects of their actions on others

• Callously disregard the rights and feelings of others and the law

Estimates of how common antisocial personality disorder is vary between 0.2% (1 in 500) to a little over 3% of the general population in the United States. It is 6 times more common among men. The disorder is less common in older age groups, suggesting that people can learn over time to change their behavior.

Other disorders are also often present. These disorders include

• An impulse-control disorder

Most people with antisocial personality disorder also have a substance use disorder.

Genes and environmental factors (such as adversity during childhood) contribute to the development of antisocial personality disorder.

Antisocial personality disorder is more common among first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) of people with the disorder than among the general population. Risk of developing this disorder is increased in both adopted and biologic children of parents with the disorder.

Disregard for the pain of others during early childhood has been linked to antisocial behavior during late adolescence.

People with antisocial personality disorder may express their disregard for others and for the law by destroying property, harassing others, or stealing. They may deceive, exploit, con, or manipulate people to get what they want—whether it be money, power, sex, or personal gratification. They may use an alias to accomplish their goals.

People with this disorder do not often feel remorse or guilt for what they have done. They may rationalize their actions by blaming those they hurt (for example, by thinking they deserved it) or the way life is (for example, by thinking that it is unfair). They are determined not to be pushed around and to do what they think is best for themselves at any cost; this attitude may stem from pervasive mistrust of others.

People with antisocial personality disorder lack empathy for others and may be contemptuous of or indifferent to the feelings, rights, and suffering of others.

People with antisocial personality disorder are generally impulsive. They have difficulty planning ahead and considering the consequences for themselves or others. As a result, they may do the following:

• Suddenly change homes, or relationships, or jobs (with no plan for getting another)

• Speed when driving and drive while intoxicated, sometimes leading to crashes

• Consume excessive amounts of alcohol or take illegal drugs that may have harmful effects

• Commit criminal acts

People with antisocial personality disorder are often easily provoked and physically aggressive because they have problems controlling their impulses and do not appreciate the effect of their actions on others.

They have a shorter life expectancy than the general population.

People with antisocial personality disorder are often socially and financially irresponsible. As a result, they may do the following:

• Not seek employment when opportunities are available

• Not pay their bills or default on loans

• Not pay child support

These people sometimes have a high opinion of themselves and may be very opinionated, self-assured, or arrogant. They may be charming, persuasive, and convincing in their efforts to get what they want.

• A doctor's evaluation, based on specific criteria

For doctors to diagnose antisocial personality disorder, people must persistently disregard the rights of others, as shown by at least three of the following:

• They disregard the law, shown by repeatedly committing acts that are grounds for arrest.

• They are deceitful, shown by lying repeatedly, using aliases, or conning others for personal gain or pleasure.

• They act impulsively and do not plan ahead.

• They are easily provoked or aggressive, shown by constantly getting into physical fights or assaulting others.

• They recklessly disregard their safety and/or the safety of others.

• They consistently act irresponsibly, shown by quitting a job with no plans for another one or not paying bills.

• They do not feel remorse, shown by indifference to or rationalization of hurting or mistreating others.

Antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed only in people aged 18 years or older.

• For some symptoms, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mentalization-based therapy, and certain drugs

If aggression and impulsiveness are problems, people may benefit from treatment with any of the following:

• Mentalization-based therapy (a type of psychotherapy that explores how mental states influence interpersonal interactions)

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