Sociobiological factors in antisocial personality disorder

Social factors along with biological and psychological factors may predispose an individual to personality disorders. In this article probable social and biological risk factors for antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) are reviewed. Recent data report lower prevalence of ASPD in Eastern Asian communities. This seems to be associated with relatively higher coherence in the Asian families compared to North American ones. In North American society there seems to be a huge increase in the number of people diagnosed as ASPD which also reflects the impact of the cultural milieu on this disorder. In another vein, prefrontal dysfunction emerges as a predisposing factor for antisocial behavior. Prevalent minimal brain dysfunction as well as minor EEG abnormalities in these patients sheds some light on the biological basis of this disorder. Biogenetics of ASPD reveals a genetic basis but does not indicate that the disorder is purely genetic or inherited. ASPD seems to be result of a variety of biogenetic and psychosocial variables that interact and through the development of personality. In this article we discuss the biosocial risk factors for ASPD and hence suggest that reductionistic approaches to mental conditions can not grasp the picture completely.