Statistics and Prevailance for Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) as “...a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood.” People with antisocial personality disorder may disregard social norms and laws, repeatedly lie, place others at risk for their own benefit, and demonstrate a profound lack of remorse. It is sometimes referred to as sociopathic personality disorder, or sociopathy.

1. As much as 3.6 percent of adults in the United States, equal to about 7.6 million, have antisocial personality disorder. The disorder is known to affect men more than women.
2. According to DSM-IV, the prevalence of antisocial personality disorder in the United States population is spread between about 3 percent of adult males and 1 percent of adult females.
3. As much as 3 to 30 percent of psychiatric outpatients have antisocial personality disorder.
4. As mentioned, antisocial personality disorder is more common in males.
5. Research studies have suggested that individuals with antisocial personality disorder have exhibited behaviors associated with the disorder before age 15.
6. According to the National Comorbidity Survey and DSM-III-R criteria, as much as 5.8 percent of males and 1.2 percent of females have antisocial personality disorder for life.
7. United States prisons are known to host a high percentage of psychopaths and sociopaths.
8. As much as 80 percent of male prison inmates were shown to exhibit signs and symptoms of antisocial personality disorder.
9. As much as 65 percent of imprisoned women are sociopaths.