Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), sometimes called sociopathy, is a mental disorder in which a person consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference. They show no guilt or remorse for their behavior.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5 - TR) classifies ASPD as a “Cluster B” or “erratic” illness, comparable in symptoms to borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders. The DSM restricts the diagnosis of ASPD to individuals who are at least 18 years of age but who have experienced antisocial tendencies before age 15. Symptoms tend to surface during a person’s late teenage years and early twenties, however they can also improve on their own by the time the individual is in their forties.
For forensic nurses, it is important to remember that individuals with antisocial personality disorder often violate the law, becoming criminals. They may lie, behave violently or impulsively, and have problems with drug and alcohol use. Because of these characteristics, people with this dis