Forensic Psychotherapy: Pathologies and Treatment Strategies for Working With Violence

What is Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Individuals diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) or psychopathy continue to be viewed by many as untreatable. However, psychopathy and ASPD are not synonymous and there is convincing evidence that a subgroup of individuals with medium to low psychopathy scores have suffered early trauma and attachment difficulties which have contributed to their personality pathology as adults. Mentalization-based therapy is based on attachment theory and offers a credible treatment for people with ASPD. Dr Jessica Yakeley here presents findings from an ongoing project developing and researching a new Mindfulness Based Therapy community services for ASPD nationally, which has been commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health as part of the Personality Disorder Offender Pathway Strategy.