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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffWhen doctors believe someone has antisocial personality disorder, they typically run a series of medical and psychological tests and exams. These can help rule out other problems that could be causing your symptoms, pinpoint a diagnosis and also check for any related complications. These exams and tests generally include:
- Physical exam. This may include measuring height and weight, checking vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, listening to your heart and lungs, and examining your abdomen.
- Laboratory tests. These may include a complete blood count (CBC), screening for alcohol and drugs, and a check of your thyroid function.
- Psychological evaluation. A doctor or mental health provider talks to you about your thoughts, feelings, relationships and behavior patterns. He or she asks about your symptoms, including when they started, how severe they are, how they affect your daily life and whether you've had similar episodes in the past. You also discuss any thoughts you may have of suicide, self-injury or harming others.
Pinpointing which personality disorder you have
It sometimes can be difficult to determine if you have antisocial personality disorder or another personality disorder. For one thing, some personality disorders share similar symptoms. In addition, a diagnosis is often based largely on how you describe your symptoms and behavior, along with how your doctor interprets those symptoms and observes you behaving. Because of this, it can take some time and effort to get an accurate diagnosis. Be sure to stick with it, though, so that you can get appropriate treatment designed for your particular illness and situation, whether it's antisocial personality disorder or another condition.
Diagnostic criteria
To be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, you must meet the symptom criteria for that disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health providers to diagnose mental illnesses and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
Symptom criteria required for a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder include:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You had symptoms of conduct disorder before age 15, which may include such acts as stealing, vandalism, violence, cruelty to animals and bullying.
- Repeatedly breaking the law.
- Conning others.
- Lying.
- Aggressiveness.
- Lack of remorse after harming others.
- Disregard for the safety of yourself or others.
- Impulsive behavior.
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- Staying well when you have a mental illness. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org. Accessed July 2008.
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- De Clercq B, et al. Childhood antecedents of personality disorder. Current Opinion Psychiatry 2007;20(1):57-61.
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- Davidson KM, et al. Cognitive behaviour therapy for violent men with antisocial personality disorder in the community: An exploratory randomized controlled trial. Psychological Medicine. In press. 2008.
- Gelhorn HL, et al. DSM-IV conduct disorder criteria as predictors of antisocial personality disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2007;48(6):529-538.
- Skodol AE., et al. Personality disorders. In: Hales RE. et al. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc. 2008.
