How are alcohol abuse and ASPD related? Abusing alcohol impacts personal behavior and actions. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (1), alcohol contributes to roughly 40 percent of violent crimes in the United States. Although alcohol abuse does not always result in violent behavior, it has a tendency to promote violence. In particular, alcohol abuse and aspd contribute to violent behavior if an individual has a known or unknown antisocial personality disorder.
Impact of ASPD or Related Disorders on the Brain
Antisocial personality disorder, or ASPD, impacts the way that the brain functions. According to the National Institutes on Health (2), brain imaging studies show deficits in the prefrontal cortex of the brain that impact cognitive function. The prefrontal structure of the brain is significantly smaller in antisocial individuals when compared to the general population.
Violent behavior, antisocial disorders and related mental health disorders impact the brain. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (3), the prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain that regulates behavior, emotion and complex cognition. If you or a loved one has ASPD or related disorders, then the risk of violent behavior while drinking alcohol is greater than the general public.
Signs of ASPD
Recognizing the relationship between alcohol abuse and ASPD or related disorders is essential for appropriate treatment. The signs of ASPD include:
- Callous or cynical attitudes towards others
- Lacking empathy for others
- Arrogant or an inflated sense of self-worth
- Repeated lying
- Impulsive behavior
- Irresponsible behavior
- Lack of remorse for inappropriate behaviors
Alcohol Abuse and ASPD
When you or a loved one exhibits signs of ASPD, it is important to recognize the dangers of alcohol abuse. According to Psych Central (4) individuals with ASPD do not conform to society’s behavioral norms and have a higher risk of violent behavior. Furthermore, an individual will lack remorse for his or her behavior. Since the individual does not feel empathy for others, aggression can result in domestic violence, assault or other inappropriate or potentially dangerous behaviors.
Impact of Alcohol on ASPD
While alcohol abuse does not always cause violent behavior, it does contribute to the risk. According to the National Institutes on Health (5), epidemiologic studies have shown a positive correlation between alcohol abuse and ASPD. A diagnosis of ASPD increases the risk of alcohol abuse by 21 times, says the National Institutes on Health (5).
When an individual exhibits signs of ASPD or a related disorder, he or she is more likely to abuse alcohol. The National Institutes of Health (5) explain that ASPD does not automatically mean that an individual is more violent when he or she abuses alcohol; however, some individuals with ASPD engage in violent behavior and their actions may become more violent after drinking.
It is a fact that alcohol abuse contributes to violent behavior. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (1) estimates that alcohol abuse contributes to 15 percent of robberies, 37 percent of sexual assaults and 27 percent of aggravated assaults.
Alcohol addiction increases the risk of violent behavior. When an individual is diagnosed with ASPD or a related disorder, there is a higher risk of violence. Seeking early treatment for addiction will help reduce the risk of violent behavior or legal consequences when a loved one has a personality disorder.
References:
- https://ncadd.org/learn-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-crime
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784035/
- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal%20cortex
- http://psychcentral.com/disorders/antisocial-personality-disorder-symptoms/
- http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-1/5-11.htm