Antisocial personality disorder--stable and unstable subtypes.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Criminology

Background:

• Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) diagnosis is criticized for over-reliance on criminal behavior.
• Existing diagnostic criteria may not fully represent the spectrum of social and behavioral problems in ASPD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct social/behavioral problems and instability criteria in ASPD.
• To examine the associations between these criteria in a UK adult sample.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a representative UK household sample of adults.
• Assessed criteria for social and behavioral problems and instability in individuals diagnosed with ASPD.

Main Results:

• One-third of adults with ASPD did not meet instability criteria.
• Individuals without instability were less aggressive and criminally involved but showed less remorse.
• Instability in ASPD was significantly associated with comorbid anxiety disorders and borderline personality disorder.

Conclusions:

• ASPD criteria may need refinement beyond criminal behavior to include social/behavioral issues and instability.
• Instability in ASPD is linked to specific comorbidities, suggesting distinct subtypes.
• The concept of Secondary Psychopathy aligns with the unstable subtype of ASPD.