Antisocial personality disorder

Science has been concerned with antisocial behavior for centuries. With the antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the dissocial personality disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Hare's Psychopathy different conceptualizations exist. The categorical classification of personality disorder is increasingly under criticism, whereas dimensional models are gaining in importance. With respect to the etiopathogenesis of ASPD, acombination of genetic and environmental factors is currently assumed. An ASPD has high comorbidity rates with other mental disorders. While ASPD has long been regarded as untreatable, new findings contradict this hypothesis. Several approaches to psychotherapy have been adapted for ASPD and are currently being evaluated; however, there is hardly any evidence for the psychopharmacological treatment of ASPD. Psychotherapy of people with ASPD is aparticular challenge for therapists due to the severity of the disorder, its core symptoms and the specific forms of interaction.