4.0 KiB
| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antisocial personality disorder | 8/9 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T15:21:37.098549+00:00 | kb-cron |
== Epidemiology == The estimated lifetime prevalence of ASPD amongst the general population falls within 1% to 4%, skewed towards 6% men and 2% women. The prevalence of ASPD is even higher in selected populations, like prisons, where there is a preponderance of violent offenders. It has been found that the prevalence of ASPD among prisoners is just under 50%. According to one study (n=23000), the prevalence of ASPD in prisoners is 47% in men and 21% in women. Thus, with only 27-31% of patients with ASPD seeing an improvement in symptoms over time, statistically around one third (33%) of male prisoners will not see any improvement in their symptoms, and are thus essentially prognostically hopeless. The corresponding percentage of female prisoners with statistically no chance of improvement in symptoms is around 15% or roughly one in six. Similarly, the prevalence of ASPD is higher among patients in alcohol or other drug (AOD) use treatment programs than in the general population, suggesting a link between ASPD and AOD use and dependence. As part of the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) study, men with ASPD were found to be three to five times more likely to excessively use alcohol and illicit substances than those men without ASPD. There was found to be increased severity of this substance use in women with ASPD. In a study conducted with both men and women with ASPD, women were more likely to misuse substances compared to their male counterparts. Homelessness is also common amongst people with ASPD. A study on 31 youths of San Francisco and 56 youths in Chicago found that 84% and 48% of the homeless met the diagnostic criteria for ASPD respectively. Another study on the homeless found that 25% of participants had ASPD. Individuals with ASPD are at an elevated risk for suicide. Some studies suggest this increase in suicidality is in part due to the association between suicide and symptoms or trends within ASPD, such as criminality and substance use. Children of people with ASPD are also at risk. Some research suggests that negative or traumatic experiences in childhood, perhaps as a result of the choices a parent with ASPD might make, can be a predictor of delinquency later on in the child's life. Additionally, with variability between situations, children of a parent with ASPD may face consequences of delinquency if they are raised in an environment in which crime and violence is common. Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth who display antisocial behavior, especially when mixed with delinquency. Incarceration, which could come as a consequence of actions from a person with ASPD, is a predictor for suicide ideation in youth.
=== Comorbidity === ASPD presents high comorbidity rates with various psychiatric conditions, particularly substance use and mood disorder. Individuals diagnosed with ASPD are significantly more prone to develop substance use disorder (SUDs), with studies showing that they are approximately 13 times more likely to be diagnosed with a SUD than those without ASPD. This population also faces increased risks for mood disorders, including a fourfold likelihood of experiencing major depressive disorder, as well as heightened risks for suicidal ideation and behaviors. Anxiety disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder, are also common comorbidities, affecting up to 50% of individuals with ASPD. These comorbidities often exacerbate the problems of those with ASPD, leading to more severe symptoms, complex treatment needs, and poorer clinical outcomes. When combined with alcoholism, people may show frontal brain function deficits on neuropsychological tests greater than those associated with each condition. Alcohol use disorder is likely caused by lack of impulse and behavioral control exhibited by antisocial personality disorder patients.