Antisocial personality disorder

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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Although the precise cause of antisocial personality disorder isn't known, certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering antisocial personality disorder, including:

  • Being diagnosed with childhood conduct disorder
  • A family history of antisocial personality disorder or other personality disorders or mental illness
  • Being subjected to verbal, physical or sexual abuse during childhood
  • Having an unstable or chaotic family life during childhood
  • Loss of parents through death or traumatic divorce during childhood
References
  1. Antisocial Personality Disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed July 13, 2010.
  2. Antisocial Personality Disorder. In: Hales RE, et al., eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed July 13, 2010.
  3. Blais MA, et al. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, et al. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208922830-3/1022719999/1657/387.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04743-2..50041-X--cesec11_990. Accessed July 13, 2010.
  4. Silk KR. Personality disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 13, 2010.
  5. Cohen P. Child development and personality disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2008;31:477.
  6. Staying well when you have a mental health condition. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/mental-health-month/staying-well-when-you-have-a-mental-illness. Accessed July 13, 2010.
  7. Koegl CJ, et al. Clinician perceptions of childhood risk factors for future antisocial behavior. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 2009;38:564.
  8. Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 26, 2010.
  9. Bostwick MJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 21, 2010.
  10. Kendall T, et al. Borderline and antisocial personality disorders: Summary of NICE guidance. British Medical Journal. 2009;338:293.
DS00829 Oct. 8, 2010

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