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Antisocial personality disorder: a biopsychosocial model
1Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, Sir Mortimer B Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
Summary
A biopsychosocial model best explains antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), integrating biological, psychological, and social factors. Current treatments are ineffective, and the disorder often persists into adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Epidemiology
Background:
- Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) presents complex etiological questions.
- Existing research highlights limitations in purely biological or psychological explanations for ASPD.
- Understanding the developmental pathways and long-term outcomes of ASPD is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an empirically-grounded etiological model for antisocial personality disorder.
- To synthesize diverse research findings on ASPD's development, course, and prevalence.
- To identify a comprehensive framework that accounts for all empirical data on ASPD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent research findings on antisocial pathology.
- Analysis of epidemiological data, including cross-cultural prevalence studies.
- Examination of outcome research on the long-term course and treatment efficacy for ASPD.
Main Results:
- Neither biological nor psychological factors alone adequately explain ASPD etiology.
- Significant cross-cultural variations in ASPD prevalence underscore the role of social factors.
- ASPD shows limited remission over time, with persistent dysfunction and lack of effective treatments.
Conclusions:
- A biopsychosocial model effectively integrates empirical findings on ASPD.
- This model accounts for the interplay of biological, psychological, and social determinants.
- The findings suggest a need for integrated approaches in understanding and addressing ASPD.