Antisocial Personality Traits
Finding The Right Treatment
Treatment for ASPD
There is no cure for ASPD. It is a chronic condition that can be managed throughout the lifetime. Although there is no medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of ASPD, there are effective medications for the treatment of some of the other disorders that may accompany ASPD. For example, in some cases, antidepressants can help with symptoms of depression, and antipsychotics can improve violent behavior and aggression. Mood stabilizers can improve the symptoms of bipolar depression, including high and low moods.
Psychotherapy
Several forms of psychotherapy may help to improve the symptoms of co-occurring disorders, and may offer strategies for behavioral change, as well.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic modality that focuses on how our thoughts affect our behavior and how challenging our thoughts and assumptions may lead to behavioral change. CBT can help some individuals to learn to think differently and also take a moment to pause before reacting impulsively.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was originally developed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, but is now widely used to treat a range of other personality disorders and mental health conditions. DBT consists of individual and group therapy sessions.
Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is a form of talk therapy that focuses on improving one’s ability to understand their own mental states and those of others.
There are different kinds of professionals who are trained in psychotherapy:
- Clinical Psychologists (PhD)
- Licensed Social Workers (LCSW)
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPC)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
The decision to start therapy
Many people try to cope with their distress on their own, and then feel disappointed when they find that this is very difficult to do. Deciding to start therapy can be hard; it takes courage.
For some people, it can take time to warm up to the idea of sharing one’s intimate thoughts or disclosing details of one’s life, especially for those who grew up in a culture where seeking psychological help was frowned upon.
Psychotherapy is increasingly accepted as not only a way to improve mental health symptoms, but also a means for self exploration and personal growth. No problem is too small for a trained therapist: an individual need not worry that others may have it worse. The willingness to reach out for help is increasing: in 2020, one out of every six Americans (men and women) reported seeing a therapist.
Seeing a therapist with whom one feels comfortable, and a sense of connection, and who also participates in their insurance network, is essential. It may take a couple tries to find a therapist who feels like the right fit. If therapy didn't help the first time around, it can be helpful to give another therapist a try because therapeutic styles vary so much from therapist to therapist.
Where to start
Asking one’s physician to make a referral is often a good place to start. Many health insurance cards have websites or 1-800 numbers to call for a list of in-network providers.
To find a therapist who takes one's insurance, the National Institute of Mental Health offers a comprehensive list of resources.
Psychology Today also lists therapists by type, location and insurance.