Despite massive leaps forward in dealing with mental health issues, there are still stigmas attached to certain conditions.
According to mental health charity, MIND, one in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year.
While mental health is being talked about more openly these days, there are still a number of disorders that are stigmatised – one of those being ‘Antisocial Personality Disorder’, more commonly known as psychopathy.
The disorder is still widely misunderstood and is often portrayed in the villainous characters in horror films as opposed to being talked about in everyday life.
So how can you tell if somebody might have antisocial personality disorder?
According to the NHS, a diagnosis can be made if any three of the following criteria apply to the person’s everyday personality:
-
- Repeatedly breaking the law
- Repeatedly being deceitful
- Impulsive behaviour or being incapable of planning ahead
- Being irritable and aggressive
- Having a reckless disregard for their safety or the safety of others
- Being consistently irresponsible
- Lack of remorse
And, also according to the NHS, their behaviour usually becomes ‘most extreme and challenging’ during the late teens and early 20s – but it may improve by the time the person reaches their 40s.
Unsurprisingly, it’s not usually the person with antisocial personality disorder who seeks their own diagnosis, it’s more often friends, families, or partners who attempt to get the person a diagnosis.
If you are concerned about somebody who displays antisocial personality disorder symptoms, the best thing to do is advise them to see a GP.
