Does treatment based on cognitive behavioral principles reduce recidivism risk in patients diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder?

Abstract

People with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) are overrepresented within prison population and the condition is associated with considerable harm to the individual, his/her extended family and society as a whole. Despite this, the evidence base for effective treatments continues to be very limited and the treatability of the disorder is often viewed with ambivalence. This paper measured whether cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) reduces recidivism risk in forensic psychiatric outpatients suffering from ASPD. Recidivism risk was measured by the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI). The results indicated that those suffering from ASPD are receptive to treatment based on CBT-principles. Furthermore, we found that this group responded better to treatment compared to those with a diagnosis of ‘traits of ASPD’. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the only significant predictor for treatment success was pre-treatment risk assessment score.