Predictors of social functioning in people with antisocial personality disorder

Abstract

Objective: Although much research has been performed in defining and diagnosing the antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and its etiology, very few data about the predictors of social functioning (SF) in ASPD are available. Acceptance and commitment therapy is a third-wave psychotherapy which puts the psychological inflexibility model at the heart of its psychopathology model. According to this model, experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, and attachment to conceptualized self are three processes that are related to psychological inflexibility.

Method: In this study, we included 220 people with ASPD. We investigated possible predictive effects of experiential avoidance (measured with Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II), cognitive fusion (measured with Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire), attachment to conceptualized self (measured with Self-as-Context Scale), symptom severity (measured with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-II), and perspective taking (measured with Interpersonal Reactivity Index) on SF (measured with Social Functioning Scale) in people with ASPD. We conducted regression analyses to determine possible predictive effects.

Results: Our model explained 14% of the cases. ASPD severity, lower attachment to conceptualized self, and cognitive fusion were found to predict SF but perspective taking and experiential avoidance did not.

Conclusion: Other than symptom severity, self-as-context and cognitive fusion were found to predict SF in people with ASPD. Results were compared with the literature data.