Antisocial Personality Disorder Case Summary

In the case of Adam and his diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, I believe that he was properly diagnosed. His behavior fulfills several of the DSM 5 diagnostic criteria; Adam is over the age of 18, and is able to receive this diagnosis. He lied to his therapist about several things. At one point he stated that he thought it was ridiculous that his father hit his mother, but it was later revealed that he abused Tisch, his girlfriend, as well. He admitted that he had no pity for the people he had assaulted or robbed, and stated that they deserved it. He was even indifferent to harming his girlfriend and then rationalizing why he had done it. Even before he was 18, he showed signs of troubling behavior. He was first brought into therapy when he was 14 after he was arrested, and he was then diagnosed with alcohol dependence and conduct disorder. He also showed signs of impulsive behavior. In fact, he was actually brought into therapy this time because he agreed to go with a friend to rob another person’s place with little planning ahead so that both he and his friend could profit, and had committed other crimes in the past. In summary, Adam is a young man who dismisses …show more content…
Antisocial personality disorder has a very poor prognosis, and Adam only came to get help after he was arrested. Although his therapist stated that he should receive more therapy, both he and his probation officer decided against it. Clearly this was not the best decision, considering what the therapist last heard about him. Overall, antisocial personality disorder is hard to treat, especially if the patient is like Adam and is uncooperative with the therapist. There was aspects of the therapy that I did not agree with though. I don’t believe that couple’s therapy was in the best interests of Tisch, and the only reason that it was excusable was because she refused personal therapy. It is not a good idea to receive therapy with your