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3 evidence-based treatment methods for antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a personality disorder marked by a long-term pattern of ignoring or violating the rights of others. It’s not about being a “bad” person or rebellious; it’s a deeply ingrained way of thinking, feeling and behaving that often begins in childhood or early teen years and continues into adulthood.

ASPD affects up to 3% of the general population and is more commonly diagnosed in males than females. Because it involves a lack of empathy and a tendency to manipulate others, ASPD is considered one of the most challenging personality disorders to treat.

This is partly because people with ASPD often don’t see a problem with their own behavior and may be more likely to seek help under external pressure from legal or familial concerns.

Read on to learn about the symptoms and treatments of antisocial personality disorder. Then we’ll discuss how Guidelight can help clients with the disorder move along their mental health journey to become the best version of themselves.

Common symptoms of antisocial personality disorder

The symptoms of ASPD can significantly affect a person’s life and the lives of those around them. These can include:

  • Disregard for right and wrong
  • Persistent lying or deceit
  • Impulsivity
  • Irritability
  • Aggressiveness
  • Lack of empathy
  • Failure to learn from punishment
  • Irresponsible behavior
  • Lack of remorse

While there’s no cure for ASPD, effective treatments can help manage symptoms and improve a person’s quality of life and relationships. The goal of treatment is often to reduce problematic behaviors, increase empathy and help individuals develop healthier ways of interacting with the world.

3 evidence-based treatment methods for antisocial personality disorder

Treating ASPD often requires a long-term, consistent approach, usually involving a combination of psychotherapy techniques as a way to look at the disorder from every angle. At Guidelight, there are several different evidence-based methods that we use to help clients with this personality disorder, including:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is widely used to help people identify and change harmful thought patterns and behaviors. For antisocial personality disorder, it focuses on:

  • Identifying distorted thinking — Helping people recognize thoughts that justify harming others or breaking rules.
  • Developing empathy — Through role-playing and specific exercises, therapists work to help people understand how their actions affect others.
  • Learning anger management — Teaching healthier ways to deal with frustration and anger instead of aggression.
  • Improving impulse control — Developing strategies to pause and think before acting.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

DBT was originally developed for borderline personality disorder, but has been adapted for antisocial personality disorder in some cases to help with emotional regulation and impulse control. However, it is not universally accepted or validated for this use. It teaches skills in four key areas:

  • Mindfulness — Being aware of the present moment without judgment of your thoughts.
  • Distress tolerance — Learning to cope with difficult emotions without resorting to harmful behaviors.
  • Emotion regulation — Understanding and managing intense feelings.
  • Interpersonal effectiveness — Improving communication skills and building healthier relationships.

Medication

While there isn’t a specific medication to cure ASPD, medications can be used to help manage certain challenging symptoms that often happen alongside the disorder. This is known as symptom management. The following types of medications may be used:

  • Mood stabilizers — These medications, like lithium or valproate, can help reduce impulsivity, aggression and sudden mood shifts.
  • Antipsychotics — In some cases, low doses of certain antipsychotic medications may be used to help manage severe anger, aggression or impulsive behaviors.
  • Antidepressants — If the person also experiences depression or anxiety, antidepressants may be prescribed to help alleviate these co-occurring symptoms.

It’s important to remember that medication is almost always used in combination with psychotherapy, as therapy addresses the core behavioral and thinking patterns of ASPD. Proper medication management is also important, to determine if there are prescription changes that need to be made due to side effects of lack of efficiency.

Let Guidelight help you take the next step 

At Guidelight Health, we understand how complex antisocial personality disorder can be, and we believe in meeting individuals with empathy and structure. While it can be incredibly difficult to treat, progress is possible.

Treating ASPD requires commitment, honesty and a supportive team. The earlier treatment begins, especially in young people showing signs of conduct disorder, the better the chances of improving behavior and quality of life.

Everyone has a seat at Guidelight. Contact our team online or call us today for more information about how we can support people with antisocial personality disorder or to schedule an initial evaluation.