Treatment for Antisocial Personality Disorder

Do You or Someone You Love Need Antisocial Personality Disorder Treatment?

Antisocial personality disorder can be more difficult to treat, as the person suffering with this mental condition does not typically seek out or desire treatment.  Since antisocial personality disorder is more characteristic of a state of being rather than a condition that can be cured, it should be followed closely and monitored by a professional treatment team.  If your loved one has been struggling with antisocial personality disorder, you may understand how difficult and overwhelming it can feel to live life on a daily basis.  It is likely that you have experienced hopelessness, despair, and sadness, and other extreme emotions, especially if you are attempting to persuade your loved one to receive treatment.  In the case of antisocial personality disorder, it is likely that other conditions are present as well, such as a co-occurring mental disorder or hormonal imbalance.  Because of the complexity of this disorder, it is crucial that you seek the help and support from an antisocial personality disorder treatment center for guidance in your healing and recovery journey.  If left untreated, an antisocial personality disorder can negatively impact various aspects of your life, including physically, emotionally, and socially.  Having professional treatment during this time can promote healing and offer guidance so that the effects of antisocial personality disorder are minimized.

Treatment Plan for Antisocial Personality Disorder

A comprehensive treatment team with medical and mental health providers will offer the professional guidance and support needed for management and healing from antisocial personality disorder.  By creating a skilled team of specialists, a reliable network will be developed that can assist you throughout the recovery process.  This team will consist of loved ones, a therapist, an antisocial personality disorder healing program, and a support group. These four components will contribute tremendously to your ability to heal from an antisocial personality disorder.

• Loved ones – Loved ones will play a significant part in the healing process and cannot be undervalued. They will provide support and help when therapy and treatment becomes challenging.
• Licensed counselor – A licensed counselor will be able to create a personalized antisocial personality disorder treatment program. They are also important in making the arrangements to enter an antisocial personality disorder treatment facility.
• Find an antisocial personality disorder rehabilitation program – An antisocial personality disorder treatment program will provide support in dealing with any physical and psychological issues. Additional co-occurring addictions or disorders that may exist will also be evaluated.
• Continuing groups of support – The motivation and accountability provided by a support group is invaluable. A support group can offer supervision when facing tests of ending treatment and taking medications. They will play a key role in ongoing success.

Treatment Levels for Antisocial personality disorder

If the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder become severe or are endangering the lives of others, psychiatric hospitalization may be required.  Psychiatric hospitalization options for antisocial personality disorder include 24-hour inpatient care, partial or day hospitalization, or residential living.  Various levels of treatment are available for the treatment of antisocial personality disorders, ranging based on needs and symptoms of an individual diagnosed with this disorder. The following are common levels of care for antisocial personality disorder treatment, in order of acuity:

• Inpatient Treatment Level – A hospital-based treatment environment that provides 24-hour supervision. This is designed for a patient that requires immediate medical stability in a hospital environment before being able to begin or continue recovery.
• Residential Treatment Center (RTC) – This kind of facility provides the patient an extended overnight stay for 30 to 90 days. An RTC will focus on the main issue and any other co-occurring concerns that may also be present.
• Partial Hospitalization Treatment (PHP) – This treatment level integrates individual therapy and group therapy, normally in a hospital or residential environment. The program can run all day long but more often the sessions are either in the mornings or afternoons.

Types of Pharmacological Therapy for Antisocial personality disorder Treatment

Currently, there are no existing drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in treating antisocial personality disorder.  While the recommended treatment is psychotherapy for symptom relief and behavior change, several types of psychiatric medications may be bused to help with certain symptoms.  This might include the following medications:

• Antidepressant medications
• Mood-stabilizing medications
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Antipsychotic medications

Types of Therapy for Antisocial personality disorder Treatment

Psychotherapy may is one of the most successful resources and tools for treating antisocial personality disorder.  An antisocial personality disorder treatment center will integrate a wide range of psychotherapy techniques to ultimately help an individual and families deal with the symptoms that may result.  The following are the main types of psychotherapies that may be used for the treatment of antisocial personality disorder:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – This category of rehabilitation is designed to work on a patient’s maladaptive ways of thinking as a way influencing their behavior with an approach that is more positive. This also assists the patient in developing coping skills that replace negative skills with positive ones.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – This type of therapy incorporates CBT and IPT behavioral therapies the patient can learn to control their emotions. It combines the stress management and mindful awareness parts of the therapies into the DBT therapy.
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy (PP) – This therapy approach is aimed at raising awareness of unconscious thought and behaviors and changing their negative impact.

If you are seeking help and healing from an antisocial personality disorder for yourself or your loved one, you are choosing to make a positive difference in your life, despite any difficulties you have had to face.  While you have undoubtedly suffered much due to this mental disorder, you do not have to bear this burden alone.  With the availability of help and resources for overcoming antisocial personality disorder, you can get your life back on track and learn healthy ways to cope with stressful circumstances.  An antisocial personality disorder treatment center can be invaluable to helping you get started on the right track of recovery.  Consider taking the first step towards healing today and access the resources available on Addiction Hope to get started on your recovery journey.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on April 15th, 2013
Published on AddictionHope.com, Addiction Help