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Help for a sociopath


Antisocial personality disorder - Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis

People with antisocial personality disorder are unlikely to believe they need help. However, they may seek help from their primary care provider because of other symptoms such as depression, anxiety or angry outbursts or for treatment of substance misuse.

People with antisocial personality disorder may not provide an accurate account of signs and symptoms. A key factor in diagnosis is how the affected person relates to others. With permission, family and friends may be able to provide helpful information.

After a medical evaluation to help rule out other medical conditions, the primary care provider may make a referral to a mental health professional for further evaluation.

Diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder is typically based on:

  • A psychological evaluation that explores thoughts, feelings, relationships, behavior patterns and family history
  • Personal and medical history
  • Symptoms listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association

Though typically antisocial personality disorder isn't diagnosed before age 18, some signs and symptoms may occur in childhood or the early teen years. Usually there is evidence of conduct disorder symptoms before age 15.

Identifying antisocial personality disorder early may help improve long-term outcomes.

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  • Complete blood count (CBC)

Treatment

Antisocial personality disorder is difficult to treat, but for some people, treatment and close follow-up over the long term may be beneficial. Look for medical and mental health professionals with experience in treating antisocial personality disorder.

Treatment depends on each person's particular situation, their willingness to participate in treatment and the severity of symptoms.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is sometimes used to treat antisocial personality disorder. Therapy may include, for example, anger and violence management, treatment for alcohol or substance misuse, and treatment for other mental health conditions.

But psychotherapy is not always effective, especially if symptoms are severe and the person can't admit that he or she contributes to serious problems.

Medications

There are no medications specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat antisocial personality disorder. Doctors may prescribe medications for conditions sometimes associated with antisocial personality disorder, such as anxiety or depression, or for symptoms of aggression. Certain drugs are usually prescribed cautiously because they have the potential for misuse.

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  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Psychotherapy

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Coping and support

Skills for family members

People with antisocial personality disorder often act out and make other people miserable — with no feeling of remorse. If you have a loved one with antisocial personality disorder, it's critical that you also get help for yourself.

A mental health professional can teach you skills to learn how to set boundaries and help protect yourself from the aggression, violence and anger common to antisocial personality disorder. He or she can also recommend strategies for coping.

Seek a mental health professional who has training and experience in managing antisocial personality disorder. Ask your loved one's treatment team for a referral. They may also be able to recommend support groups for families and friends affected by antisocial personality disorder.

Preparing for your appointment

If a medical evaluation rules out physical causes for your behavior, your primary care provider may make a referral to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Take a family member or friend along to your appointment, if possible. With your permission, someone who has known you for a long time may be able to answer questions or share information with the doctor that you don't think to bring up.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Any symptoms you or your family noticed, and for how long
  • Key personal and medical information, including current physical or mental health conditions, personal or family history of mental illness, traumatic experiences, or major stressors
  • All medications you take, including the names and doses of any medications, herbs, vitamins or other supplements
  • Questions you want to ask your doctor to make the most of your appointment

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • What are other possible causes?
  • What treatments are most likely to be effective for me?
  • How much can I expect my symptoms to improve with treatment?
  • How often will I need treatment, and for how long?
  • Are there medications that can help? Is so, what are the possible side effects?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medication you're prescribing?
  • Are there any printed materials I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

  • What are your symptoms?
  • When did you or your family first notice these symptoms?
  • How are your symptoms affecting your life?
  • Have relatives or friends expressed concern about your behavior?
  • Do you have any close relationships?
  • If you're not satisfied with work, school or relationships, what do you think is causing your problems?
  • Have you ever thought about harming yourself or others? Have you ever actually done so?
  • Have any of your blood relatives, such as a parent or sibling, been diagnosed with or treated for mental illness?

Be ready to answer these questions to reserve time to go over points you want to spend more time on.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Sociopath Treatment: Can a Sociopath Change?

Tanya J. Peterson

Is there treatment for sociopaths? Is it possible for the sociopath to change? While terms such as sociopath and psychopath are frequently used by the general public as well as professionals, the technical name for the disorder is antisocial personality disorder.

As a personality disorder, sociopathy is pervasive; it impacts every facet of someone's life. It's also consistent and stable over time. The biological seeds are present in the brain of a sociopath from birth, and they're nurtured by people and events in the childhood environment. Given the depth and nature of sociopathy, are there effective treatments to help the sociopath change?

Sociopath Treatments That Don't Work

A fairly common conception in society is that the sociopath has been indulged and spoiled (Sociopath Causes: The Making of a Sociopath). For a sociopath to change, it's reasoned that people must stop enabling him. A dose of reality packaged in a container of tough love, without the packing peanuts to cushion it, will certainly cure a sociopath. Right? Unfortunately, this thinking is too simplistic and such an approach is doomed to failure.

Not wanting to give up on the sociopath, professionals have attempted many other sociopath treatment approaches.

  • Punishment, including prison. After repeated failures with punishment, experts have learned that punishment is a very ineffective sociopath treatment. Sociopaths are unable to learn from either mistakes or punishments. They're unable, and they don't care. Punishment doesn't affect them in the least. They go after what they want, and they aren't concerned for the consequences. They have no fear and no remorse, so punishment is lost on the sociopath. If anything, punishment simply provides the excitement of a new opportunity, new people to exploit.
  • Therapy/counseling. Research shows that at best, therapy is a useless sociopath treatment. It requires collaboration between client and therapist as well as a desire for changes. Sociopaths don't want to change, and they are unwilling to work with someone if it doesn't benefit them. At worst, therapy can actually worsen sociopathic behavior because it's a new game for the sociopath. 
  • Medication. Currently, no medication exists to treat sociopathy. It's a personality disorder rather than an illness.
  • Threats and pleas. Threatening, pleading with, or offering rewards to a sociopath gives him another point in his game. If he can get people to react in this way, he scores. He's ready to keep playing. Threats during a relationship with a sociopath don't work as a sociopath treatment, but they do encourage him to keep doing what he's doing.
  • Teaching empathy and emotion. Trying to teach empathy and emotion to a sociopath is like trying to teach a cellphone to cook a pizza. If it sounds ridiculous to teach a phone to cook a pizza, it's because it is. A phone isn't wired to cook, and it's not bothered by this fact. Likewise, a sociopath's brain isn't wired to feel empathy or other emotions, and like the phone, the sociopath isn't bothered about it.

Sociopath Treatment That Works

  • Confronting the problem head-on. Coming to understand the nature and scope of sociopathy, acknowledging that it's complex group of traits and behaviors that function together, and dealing with the whole rather than with little parts of it is a helpful start. Changing one aspect of a sociopath, such as trying to help her stop lying, does nothing to change the nature of a sociopath.
  • Adopting a systemic approach. Sociopath treatment has a better chance of working if it's done in every system in which the sociopath functions (relationships, work, activities, etc.). Evidence shows that working with sociopaths in the field is somewhat effective in changing attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately, evidence also shows that after initial improvement, the sociopath regresses back to his old self.

While these treatments may not be effective for adult sociopaths, they may prove helpful to the child sociopath - one who exhibits sociopathic behaviors in childhood.

When Treatment For Sociopaths Fails

The unfortunate reality is that at this point, there is no evidence to show that a sociopath can change. Currently, there is nothing that has been proven effective as a treatment for a sociopath. Researchers and practitioners aren't giving up, though. Can sociopaths be cured? Experts hope they can.

In the meantime, professionals advise that the best way to deal with a sociopath is to cut off all contact. Doing so may be the best treatment possible, at least for the non-sociopath. 

article references

APA Reference
Peterson, T. (2021, December 17). Sociopath Treatment: Can a Sociopath Change?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2022, December 3 from https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/sociopath/sociopath-treatment-can-a-sociopath-change

Last Updated: January 28, 2022

Medically reviewed by Harry Croft, MD

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How to communicate with a sociopath - Lifehacker

March 21, 2020 Relations

Living and working with a person who does not consider the feelings of others is difficult, but possible.

Who is a sociopath

A sociopath is a person suffering from antisocial personality disorder. Such people lack empathy, the ability to understand the experiences of others and emotionally respond to events. Therefore, a sociopath does not perceive social norms and rules, constantly violates them and does not consider other people's feelings.

Because of their high intelligence and disregard for rules, sociopaths make the best criminals. And although most do not do anything illegal, sociopaths are potential manipulators, ready to use people for their own purposes.

Lifehacker has already told in detail how to crack a sociopath. You need to be on your guard if a person:

  • at the beginning of communication was charming, but gradually begins to dictate his will to you;
  • lies a lot and often, writing stories on the go without any problems;
  • lives without friends, family, does not talk about the past, but is surrounded by admirers;
  • prone to sudden outbursts of anger and aggression;
  • tries to isolate you from society;
  • narcissistic to the point of megalomania;
  • likes to manipulate other people to achieve his goals;
  • knows how to keep an icy calm in stressful situations.

How to properly communicate with him

It is better, of course, not to communicate at all. If you understand that you have a sociopath in front of you who is going to achieve what you want with your help, then it is better to refuse communication in time than to suffer later.

Easy to say but hard to do, especially at work, with friends or family.

Assess the risk

If you are a suggestible person, easily influenced by others or lack confidence, try to keep communication to a minimum. The more vulnerabilities you have, the easier it is to manage you. It is these people who are the victims of manipulation.

This does not mean that the sociopath should be demonstratively avoided. Just try to do less common things.

Think of yourself

Sociopaths choose victims who are dependent on people who tend to obey instructions. The best way to protect yourself from a sociopath is confidence and independence, your own position and ability to think. The more independent a person is, the more difficult it is to control him, which is why sociopaths do not like them.

It can take years to understand who you are and what you are striving for. Learn new things, communicate with different people and listen to someone else's point of view, but do not accept it immediately. This will help develop independent thinking.

Learn self-confidence. It's difficult, but necessary.

Do not fall for provocations

That is, do not feed the troll. If you are not being manipulated, then it is not interesting to manage you - a sociopath will quickly get bored. Keep calm in communication, do not go into conflict.

Don't tell a person that he is a sociopath

This will either make him angry or irritate him. And it may well be that the sociopath is not aware of his behavior. In general, do not show that you have figured it out. Maintain polite communication.

Don't be charmed by him

A sociopath can charm and present himself favorably. But this is not a reason to forget about who is in front of you. Remember that behind the stream of compliments lies some kind of catch.

Seriously, don't give in. A sociopath knows how to poison stories in order to arouse sympathy and sympathy, knows how to prove his importance. This is normal for him, but if you believe and follow, you risk becoming a victim of manipulation in the future. Yes, this is not very good, after all, a person is not to blame for sociopathy and mental disorder. But that doesn't make it any easier for you, does it?

End a difficult relationship

If you recognize a manipulator in your partner and his behavior poisons your life, try to end the relationship as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it is to break free from a sociopath. While feelings can be strong, relationships with a sociopath are often life-threatening. Take a closer look: maybe this is just your case.

Don't confuse sociopathy with indifference.

Want to put a label on someone who hurt you or acted selfishly? Perhaps there are reasons for such behavior, the person made a mistake and repents. The sociopath made no mistake, does not worry and will do it again - when he needs it.

It is not easy to end a relationship with a sociopath on your own if you have already fallen under his influence. Enlist the support of friends and family. Get ready for the fact that the sociopath does not accept rejection and will be ready for reckless actions for the sake of your attention.

Warn Others

You don't have to yell on every corner that you've identified a sociopath, but it's sometimes worth warning shared family and friends, especially if you see that someone has fallen under the influence of a manipulator. Help the victim to understand the situation. Of course, you don’t have to fight off a sociopath with a gun, but you shouldn’t completely let the situation take its course.

Don't be afraid

After all that has been written and said about sociopaths, it's hard not to get paranoid and suspicious of everyone around you. But it is not necessary to write down people with a vile character in this category. And do not think that every sociopath will use you and destroy you.

As already mentioned, a sociopath has a high intelligence, so many people understand that their reactions and behavior are unusual. And not everyone goes over to the dark side: many even ask what to do if they find signs of a dissocial disorder in themselves.

It is possible to communicate, work and live with a sociopath, especially if self-esteem is normal.

And don't try to change anyone. It is impossible to re-educate an adult.

Think with your head, do as you see fit, then you are unlikely to become a victim. Your confidence and knowledge will help the sociopath see you as an equal rather than a means to an end.

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help of psychotherapists in the Shurov clinic

Dissocial personality disorder, sociopathy is a mental deviation, which is characterized by ignoring generally accepted social norms, high aggression, and the impossibility of building normal relationships with others. The signs of sociopathy are quite pronounced, but it is difficult to diagnose this deviation even for an experienced doctor. That is why the treatment of sociopathy should be carried out in a clinical setting - the line between sociopathy and psychopathy, schizophrenia, and neurosis is too thin.

Causes and signs of sociopathy

Until now, the reasons for the development of antisocial personality disorder have not been fully elucidated, but doctors are inclined to believe that the following factors play a large role in the formation of such a personality:

  • heredity;

  • imitating the behavior of a sociopath who is in the immediate environment;

  • incorrect upbringing of the child;

  • dysfunctional family (drinking parents, despotic father).

Working with patients as part of the sociopathy treatment program, experts note that they become those who were specially instilled in childhood that aggression, distrust, indifference to others is the norm, because society is cruel and does not give the right to be gentle, understanding, to show sympathy and pity. Usually there is a "layering" of provoking factors; it is impossible to single out any one specific cause of a personality disorder.

The first symptoms of the condition in question are clearly visible even in childhood and adolescence, there are no periods of remission, and the disorder only becomes more intense. The main symptom of the condition under consideration is inadequate behavior, which can be directed both at others (physical violence, moral humiliation) and at oneself: a person begins to take drugs, alcohol, and lead a promiscuous sex life. In addition, the obvious signs of sociopathy include:

  • inability to make plans for a long time;

  • lack of ability to calmly endure infringements of their rights;

  • the use of physical force in case of non-fulfillment of desires;

  • inability to take into account the feelings, desires of other people;

  • prone to manipulation.

Sociopaths first make a very good impression, and only under certain conditions, others consider them aggression, irritability, and a lack of guilt. People with antisocial disorder can adequately respond to the rules of society, comply with conventions only if there is a personal benefit.

Clinical treatment of sociopathy

Before the psychiatrist and other specialists begin to select treatment regimens for sociopathy, they conduct a diagnosis. To confirm the diagnosis, doctors must clearly identify at least 3 symptoms from the following:

  • the rapid emergence of aggression "out of the blue", which turns into a physical form of manifestation;

  • the inability to draw their own, logical conclusions from the situation;

  • complete absence of guilt for committed actions;

  • lack of emotional manifestations to people;

  • there is no desire to comply with social norms and maintain contacts in society;

  • making unfounded claims;

  • comfortable being in conflict between other people.

In childhood and adolescence, diagnosis is difficult because sociopathy is manifested by excessive impulsivity, periodic aggressiveness, and rejection of the established norms of society.

Even modern methods of treating sociopathy do not lead to a full recovery, it is only possible to achieve a correction of the behavior of a person with a dissocial disorder. In our clinic in Moscow, the program for the treatment of sociopathy includes:

  • Psychotherapy. As a result of classes with a psychotherapist, the patient learns to manage his own emotions, restrain negativity, ignore the desire to use physical force, and manages to refuse the use of prohibited substances or alcohol.

  • Medical therapy. It is selected on a strictly individual basis, drugs are taken by patients in the event that the treatment of sociopathy takes place in a hospital - you need to monitor the condition and the exact dosage. Antipsychotics and antidepressants are often prescribed. Doctors prefer to carry out drug therapy only if the patient leaves the framework of strict control.

  • Family psychotherapy. If there is a sociopath in the family, then all close people suffer from his behavior. The patient commits acts that hurt relatives, but do not feel guilty. Our specialists will teach the relatives of a sociopath to set limits that will help to avoid aggressive attacks, physical assault and violence.

There is no single treatment regimen for sociopathy; qualified assistance can only be provided by professionals in a clinical setting. You should not rely on luck and try to reason with a sociopath on your own - such people have no sense of guilt at all, they cannot understand the emotions of their loved ones and those around them. Call our mental health center to make an appointment and get an initial consultation regarding treatment options for sociopathy.

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In our clinic, psychotherapists help sociopaths.

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