The Genetic, Environmental, and Epigenetic Etiology of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Abstract

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a cognitive disorder that impairs interpersonal functioning, such as lacking empathy, guilt, and intimacy, while abundantly exploiting, deceiving, dominating, and intimidating to manipulate other people. Such symptoms affect society with danger, violence, and exposure to harm, while individuals with ASPD are often faced with complications of criminal confinement, homicidal and suicidal behavior, low socioeconomic status, comorbidity with other mental health disorders, and early death, typically due to violence. The severity of this dilemma points to the necessity to investigate this disorder’s root causes. The following studies discuss the genetic, environmental, and epigenetic risks that prompt the development of the personality disorder. Inheriting certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms, experiencing environmental risk factors (such as childhood adversity), and having gene expression obstructed by methylation may alter cognitive mechanisms and lead to ASPD. There is currently no effective treatment for ASPD yet, but the initial step to advance treatment requires an understanding of its etiology. This literature review will investigate the genetic, epigenetic, and environmental causes of antisocial personality disorder.