Mental Illness and Personality Disorders
The true definition of what is characterized as mental illness has been debated for years. The definition found in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is found as this: “A mental disorder is a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress or disability or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). This definition was highly criticized and resulted in the change found in edition five, which offered a more drawn out definition, separating a culturally accepted response from abnormal patterned behavior. …show more content…
To diagnose someone properly with ASPD, we would first need to know their adolescent tendencies, due to Criterion C in the DSM-5. Patients with this disorder are found to have significant impairments in personality functioning, such as being extremely egoistical and the lack of ability to comprehend the consequences given in response to their unlawful actions. On top of the impairments in their personality functioning, ASPD individuals also suffer from impairments within their interpersonal functioning, for example having lack of empathy or concern for others’ needs, as well as, failure to have mutual intimacy in relationships due to the manipulation and intimidation they use to control (American Psychiatric Association, 2012). The APA also mentions that individuals that suffer from ASPD tend to act impulsively, fail to comply with social norms and lack regard for their own safety and the safety of others (2013). It’s not uncommon for individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder to be incarcerated for assaults or sexual misconduct
The true definition of what is characterized as mental illness has been debated for years. The definition found in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is found as this: “A mental disorder is a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress or disability or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). This definition was highly criticized and resulted in the change found in edition five, which offered a more drawn out definition, separating a culturally accepted response from abnormal patterned behavior. …show more content…
To diagnose someone properly with ASPD, we would first need to know their adolescent tendencies, due to Criterion C in the DSM-5. Patients with this disorder are found to have significant impairments in personality functioning, such as being extremely egoistical and the lack of ability to comprehend the consequences given in response to their unlawful actions. On top of the impairments in their personality functioning, ASPD individuals also suffer from impairments within their interpersonal functioning, for example having lack of empathy or concern for others’ needs, as well as, failure to have mutual intimacy in relationships due to the manipulation and intimidation they use to control (American Psychiatric Association, 2012). The APA also mentions that individuals that suffer from ASPD tend to act impulsively, fail to comply with social norms and lack regard for their own safety and the safety of others (2013). It’s not uncommon for individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder to be incarcerated for assaults or sexual misconduct