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Suggest Treatment For Antisocial Personality Disorder
Question: Hello Dr. Sheppe.
I just wanted to update you and ask you a question based on what the Clinical Psychologist I have taken my son to is saying. She has diagnosed him with ASPD and has said medication does not help and he will need regular talk therapy and we had out second session with her last week as a family. Me, my wife and son son.
My question is is there a possibility she's wrong? My son does display many symptoms of ASPD that I've read about. But then I am not sure about all this as I read the symptoms of ADHD and thought that could be it.
He's tired and sleepy most of the time and stays awake late into the night.
Does not want to do any work and difficult to even carrot and stick him.
I just wanted to update you and ask you a question based on what the Clinical Psychologist I have taken my son to is saying. She has diagnosed him with ASPD and has said medication does not help and he will need regular talk therapy and we had out second session with her last week as a family. Me, my wife and son son.
My question is is there a possibility she's wrong? My son does display many symptoms of ASPD that I've read about. But then I am not sure about all this as I read the symptoms of ADHD and thought that could be it.
He's tired and sleepy most of the time and stays awake late into the night.
Does not want to do any work and difficult to even carrot and stick him.
Brief Answer:
Private Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello again, and thank you again so much for using my direct private service.
I'm glad the psychologist was with a more comprehensive assessment able to more properly diagnose your son. Antisocial personality disorder is not an easy diagnosis to hear, so I am sure you are all trying your best to cope with this. With talk therapy, this can sometimes improve, so there is some hope.
It is always possible that a diagnosis is incorrect. In psychiatry/psychology, we give a provisional diagnosis, and by observing behavior over many months to years our diagnoses become more solidified. It is possible that your son does have ADHD. But I trust the psychologist's assessment and have no reason to doubt her conclusion. If down the line your son is prescribed a stimulant, and if he begins to abuse it, then we will have a clearer answer -- ASPD and not ADHD. But I would trust the psychologist and give proper psychotherapy a chance.
Does this make sense?
Dr. Sheppe
Private Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello again, and thank you again so much for using my direct private service.
I'm glad the psychologist was with a more comprehensive assessment able to more properly diagnose your son. Antisocial personality disorder is not an easy diagnosis to hear, so I am sure you are all trying your best to cope with this. With talk therapy, this can sometimes improve, so there is some hope.
It is always possible that a diagnosis is incorrect. In psychiatry/psychology, we give a provisional diagnosis, and by observing behavior over many months to years our diagnoses become more solidified. It is possible that your son does have ADHD. But I trust the psychologist's assessment and have no reason to doubt her conclusion. If down the line your son is prescribed a stimulant, and if he begins to abuse it, then we will have a clearer answer -- ASPD and not ADHD. But I would trust the psychologist and give proper psychotherapy a chance.
Does this make sense?
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks Dr. Sheppe.
As parents what should we do? We dont give him much money except small amounts in must give situations. Nowadays he just hangs around all day sleeping and watching movies on his laptop. Some days he likes to go play football (soccer).
I tried giving him small task supposedly thinks he said he liked to do and could do like building a webpage. But he cant get started and gives up after a while.
How can he work for a living? Or do anything productive for someone to pay him with this kind of life?
Any suggestions are welcome.
As parents what should we do? We dont give him much money except small amounts in must give situations. Nowadays he just hangs around all day sleeping and watching movies on his laptop. Some days he likes to go play football (soccer).
I tried giving him small task supposedly thinks he said he liked to do and could do like building a webpage. But he cant get started and gives up after a while.
How can he work for a living? Or do anything productive for someone to pay him with this kind of life?
Any suggestions are welcome.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
Your questions are very good ones. I think what probably needs to happen are you need to cut him off financially, and make him live somewhere other than your home. He doesn't work because he doesn't see a need to work. If he is responsible for his own finances, that will motivate him to work. It needs to be very direct and simple like this is ASPD. He is perfectly capable of working, he just chooses not to.
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
Your questions are very good ones. I think what probably needs to happen are you need to cut him off financially, and make him live somewhere other than your home. He doesn't work because he doesn't see a need to work. If he is responsible for his own finances, that will motivate him to work. It needs to be very direct and simple like this is ASPD. He is perfectly capable of working, he just chooses not to.
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Thanks Dr. Sheppe. I discussed your suggestion with the Clinical Psychologist and she agrees! We are going for a session together on thursday and will discuss how it will be done. Its painful and I'm expecting an outburst from him but we need to do whats good for him in the long run.
I'm thinking of giving him an ultimatum - a month to mend his ways and do some productive work OR find a place to stay and no support from me.
I'm thinking of giving him an ultimatum - a month to mend his ways and do some productive work OR find a place to stay and no support from me.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
This sounds like a good plan. Discuss the pros and cons with the psychologist. It would also likely be good to actually deliver this ultimatum to him in the psychologist's office with her during a session, though she may disagree.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
This sounds like a good plan. Discuss the pros and cons with the psychologist. It would also likely be good to actually deliver this ultimatum to him in the psychologist's office with her during a session, though she may disagree.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Dr. Sheppe
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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