Anti-Social Personality Disorder

The labels sociopath and psychopath have often been used interchangeably. The clinical term is “Anti-Social Personality Disorder.” (APD) Like NPD, it’s long-lasting and affects all situations. Sometimes permanent, personality disorders are difficult to treat. Someone with APD must have had a conduct disorder by 15 years old, and show at least four of these traits:

• Doesn’t sustain consistent work (or school)
• Doesn’t conform to social norms, including unlawful behavior whether or not arrested
• Disregards the truth, indicated by repeated lying, conning, using aliases, not paying debts
• Impulsive or fails to plan ahead; moves around without a goal
• Irritable and aggressive; e.g., fights or assaults
• Recklessly disregards safety of self or others
• Consistently irresponsible, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
• Lacks remorse, and feels justified in having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
• Doesn’t sustain monogamy for more than one year