Sociopath/Psychopath: can it be cured

[MD2b20004]

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does the disease have merit, can it be cured, how do you help a loved one exgf with dealing with it or where to start with treatment, any others deal with loved ones with similiar pathology?

private messages will be fine too if people want to answer anon.

Thanks

 

[backontop]

that is called anti-social personality disorder. If you believe psychiatry has merit, then it has merit. it's an axis 2 disorder according to the DSM IV. With most of the axis 2 disorders, the treatment is often to give the patient insight thru therapy. There isn't specific classes of drugs that are used to treat it like they have with depression or whatnot. Insight is necessary cause ASPD doesn't bother the patient, only the people around them. In fact, it often has been adaptive for them thru-out life and therefore they can be very resistant to therapy. Lack of remorse is a hallmark symptom, but you also look for lack of empathy, lying, cheating, stealing, as well as other criminal activities. also, the degree to which you do not care is important - i.e. Al pacino in scarface is a sociopath, but so are some salesmen who would never physically hurt anyone.

its more common in men than women. also, if your X doesn't give a crap about you, but you can think of people she actually cares about, then she is likely not a sociopath. pm me if you want.

 

[Pterion]

does the disease have merit, can it be cured, how do you help a loved one exgf with dealing with it or where to start with treatment, any others deal with loved ones with similiar pathology?

private messages will be fine too if people want to answer anon.

Thanks

The short answer is "no".

 

[Kazema]

It can only be "cured" if the sociopath wants to be cured.

Sociopaths generally don't want to be cured, and don't think that they have anything that needs to be cured.

So like Pterion said, the short answer is no.

Some psychologist named Martha Stout recently wrote a book about sociopathy targeted at lay people, called "The Sociopath Next Door". I just saw it at Barnes and Noble, it has pictures of eyes on the cover; I haven't read it but I would guess it could give you more information about the disorder if you're interested.

 

[MD2b20004]

jave any first hand experience or any useful info to help me and my situation with my gf them pm me plz

thank

Mike

that is called anti-social personality disorder. If you believe psychiatry has merit, then it has merit. it's an axis 2 disorder according to the DSM IV. With most of the axis 2 disorders, the treatment is often to give the patient insight thru therapy. There isn't specific classes of drugs that are used to treat it like they have with depression or whatnot. Insight is necessary cause ASPD doesn't bother the patient, only the people around them. In fact, it often has been adaptive for them thru-out life and therefore they can be very resistant to therapy. Lack of remorse is a hallmark symptom, but you also look for lack of empathy, lying, cheating, stealing, as well as other criminal activities. also, the degree to which you do not care is important - i.e. Al pacino in scarface is a sociopath, but so are some salesmen who would never physically hurt anyone.

its more common in men than women. also, if your X doesn't give a crap about you, but you can think of people she actually cares about, then she is likely not a sociopath. pm me if you want.

 

[subtle1epiphany]

jave any first hand experience or any useful info to help me and my situation with my gf them pm me plz

thank

Mike

I just read the contents of this thread and what made me come back to it was this comment at the end. Here's me pouring out a bit of my experiences:

I was recently (a year ago) in a long-term relationship with a wonderful person, who was definitely borderline. Interesting how that came out. Regardless, people with personality disorders are arguably some of the hardest people to deal with, period. From a social/relationship and psychological/therapy standpoint. This is because the "treatment" is years of seriously intense, hard-hitting, and lengthy therapy. There are no drugs, nothing to take the edge off, nothing to dull the pain that you will incur. This is a group of disorders that are apparent only to those around them, not to the one affected. (as previous posters have mentioned) Furthermore, their behavior is off, but only to those very much both in the know and actively looking for it. You may not notice it for quite some time. Depending upon the person, they can be extremely manipulative and have everyone looking at you and the things that you do, while they tear you apart and dance on the shreds. As you can tell, I was completely in love with this person and unfortunately for me, still feel affection for her.
All I can say is the following: reassess your committment to the relationship, realistically, and seek advice from people close to you and also from people who have experience in this matter (psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, etc) do not underestimate their input, which you will as your emotions are impossible to deny! This is a hard road for anyone, if you are thinking about medicine or any involving career, this relationship will consume you, if you let it!!! It consumed me. In the end, what I can say?...give me someone with an eating disorder or a psychotic break, they're easier to treat and live with!
I wish you all the luck and care in the world. 👍

 

[stoleyerscrubz]

how was she diagnosed?

does the disease have merit, can it be cured, how do you help a loved one exgf with dealing with it or where to start with treatment, any others deal with loved ones with similiar pathology?

private messages will be fine too if people want to answer anon.

Thanks

 

[prana_md]

I have garden-variety major depression, but about a year ago a new shrink I was trying out suggested that I might have borderline personality disorder. For a reasonably well-read pre-med (oh, that rhymes), this foray into Axis II was incredibly scary ... all of the sudden I was one of THEM. Anyway, a year later with meds and dialectical behavioral therapy (#1 therapy for BPD) I'm doing great. Did I/do I have BPD? Am I cured? I think the line between Axis I and Axis II, as well as sick and cured is very fuzzy. Your interpretation of sociopath could be her interpretation (I'm suddenly thinking of interpretive dance) of bipolar. I'd get a second opinion, and some DBT. And what about YOU? We (with mental illnesses) wreak havoc on partners, family, etc.