Treatment outlines for antisocial personality disorder. The Quality Assurance Project.

The notion of antisocial behaviour as mental disorder is reviewed and criteria to distinguish it from criminality described. The natural history and familial nature of the disorder are emphasised. The literature was searched unsuccessfully for accounts of effective treatments. The sample of practising psychiatrists and the nominated experts were agreed, in the absence of any specific remedy, about the management of such patients. There are three principles. Clarify the real reason help is being sought, treat intercurrent conditions energetically, and remember that as remission is common by mid-life what happens to the patient before then may materially affect their ability to manage later.