- Personality disorders are believed to be due to a combination of genetic (inherited from your mother and father) and environmental factors (your physical and emotional surroundings).
The Mayo Clinic says research indicates that some people may be genetically susceptible to developing antisocial personality disorder and that a particular life situation may activate its onset.
You are at a greater risk of becoming sociopathic if as a child you were verbally, physically or sexually abused or had an overall unstable family life. You are also more prone to antisocial personality disorder if you were diagnosed with childhood conduct disorder. - The signs of sociopathic behavior may begin to appear in early adolescence, even though diagnosis of the condition isn't generally done before a person turns 18.
Signs of trouble include acting cruelly toward people and animals, chronic lying and stealing during aggressive confrontations such as a mugging. Young sociopaths may use weapons and be guilty of sexual assault.
If these behaviors are promptly and effectively dealt with early in life, it may lessen the chance that troubled children will go on to be labeled sociopaths as adults. - The signs of antisocial personality disorder often include the dysfunctional behaviors seen in troubled adolescents. Symptoms may also include using charm or wit to influence and control others, acting impulsively and irresponsible behavior at work. Sociopaths may abuse and/or neglect children and exhibit a lack of remorse when they have hurt others.
- To be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, you must meet the aforementioned symptom criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
You may also undergo a complete physical exam and a psychological evaluation. Your exam will most likely include blood tests to look for signs of drugs and alcohol as well as checking your thyroid function. - The best course of treatment depends on your individual situation and the severity of your symptoms.
Since antisocial personality disorder is liable to persist for much of your adult life, long-term treatment may be required.
You may also need counseling and/or medications for depression, anxiety or thyroid disorders. Some patients may need to learn stress and anger management skills while others require hospitalization. - The National Institute of Heath says sociopathic symptoms are likely to be most severe during the late teenage years and early 20s. They may improve naturally by the time a person has reached his 40s. It's uncertain whether improvement is due to the natural aging process or to a heightened awareness of the negative consequences of antisocial behavior