Causes of Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Anti-Social Personality Disorder Causes: Book Excerpts
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Agitation:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
❑ Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Mild to severe agitation occurs in alcohol withdrawal syndrome, along with hyperactivity, tremors, and anxiety. With delirium, the potentially life-threatening stage of alcohol withdrawal, severe agitation accompanies hallucinations, insomnia, diaphoresis, and a depressed mood. The patient’s pulse rate and temperature rise as withdrawal progresses; status epilepticus, cardiac exhaustion, and shock can occur.
❑ Anxiety. Anxiety produces varying degrees of agitation. The patient may be unaware of his anxiety or may complain of it without knowing its cause. Other findings include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cool and clammy skin, frontal headache, back pain, insomnia, and tremors.
❑ Dementia. Mild to severe agitation can result from many common syndromes, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. The patient may display a decrease in memory, attention span, problem-solving ability, and alertness. Hypoactivity, wandering behavior, hallucinations, aphasia, and insomnia may also occur.
❑ Drug withdrawal syndrome. Mild to severe agitation occurs in drug withdrawal syndrome. Related findings vary with the drug, but include anxiety, abdominal cramps, diaphoresis, and anorexia. With opioid or barbiturate withdrawal, a decreased level of consciousness (LOC), seizures, and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate can also occur.
❑ Hepatic encephalopathy. Agitation occurs only with fulminating encephalopathy. Other findings include drowsiness, stupor, fetor hepaticus, asterixis, and hyperreflexia.
❑ Hypersensitivity reaction. Moderate to severe agitation appears, possibly as the first sign of a reaction. Depending on the severity of the reaction, agitation may be accompanied by urticaria, pruritus, and facial and dependent edema.
With anaphylactic shock, a potentially life-threatening reaction, agitation occurs rapidly along with apprehension, urticaria or diffuse erythema, warm and moist skin, paresthesia, pruritus, edema, dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, hypotension, and tachycardia. Abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur.
❑ Hypoxemia. Beginning as restlessness, agitation rapidly worsens. The patient may be confused and have impaired judgment and motor coordination. He may also have tachycardia, tachypnea, dyspnea, and cyanosis.
❑ Increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Agitation usually precedes other early signs and symptoms, such as head-ache, nausea, and vomiting. Increased ICP produces respiratory changes, such as Cheyne-Stokes, cluster, ataxic, or apneustic breathing; sluggish, nonreactive, or unequal pupils; widening pulse pressure; tachycardia; a decreased LOC; seizures; and motor changes such as decerebrate or decorticate posture.
❑ Post-head trauma syndrome. Shortly after, or even years after injury, mild to severe agitation develops, characterized by disorientation, loss of concentration, angry outbursts, and emotional lability. Other findings include fatigue, wandering behavior, and poor judgment.
❑ Vitamin B6 deficiency. Agitation can range from mild to severe. Other effects include seizures, peripheral paresthesia, and dermatitis. Oculogyric crisis may also occur.
Other causes
❑ Drugs. Mild to moderate agitation, which is commonly dose related, develops as an adverse reaction to central nervous system stimulants — especially appetite suppressants, such as amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs; sympathomimetics, such as ephedrine; caffeine; and theophylline.
❑ Radiographic contrast media. Reaction to the contrast medium injected during various diagnostic tests produces moderate to severe agitation along with other signs of hypersensitivity.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Delusional disorders:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Delusional disorders of later life strongly suggest a hereditary predisposition. At least one study has linked the development of delusional disorders to inferiority feelings in the family. Some researchers suggest that delusional disorders are the product of specific early childhood experiences with an authoritarian family structure. Others hold that anyone with a sensitive personality is particularly vulnerable to developing a delusional disorder.
Certain medical conditions — head injury, chronic alcoholism, and deafness — and aging are known to increase the risks of delusional disorders. Predisposing factors linked to aging include isolation, lack of stimulating interpersonal relationships, physical illness, and impaired hearing and vision. In addition, severe stress (such as a move to a foreign country) may precipitate a delusional disorder.
Delusional disorders commonly begin in middle or late adulthood, usually between ages 40 and 55, but they can occur at a younger age. These uncommon illnesses affect less than 1% of the population; the incidence is about equal in men and women.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Personality disorders:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Various theories attempt to explain the origin of personality disorders. Genetic factors influence the biological basis of brain function as well as basic personality structure. In turn, personality structure affects how a person responds to life experiences and interacts with the social environment. Over time, each person develops distinctive ways of perceiving the world and of feeling, thinking, and behaving.
Some researchers suspect that poor regulation of the areas controlling emotion within the brain increases the risk of a personality disorder, especially when combined with such factors as abuse, neglect, or separation. For a biologically predisposed person, the major developmental challenges of adolescence and early adulthood may trigger a personality disorder.
Social theories hold that disorders reflect learned responses, having much to do with reinforcement, modeling, and aversive stimuli as contributing factors. According to psychodynamic theories, personality disorders reflect deficiencies in ego and superego development and are related to poor mother-child relationships characterized by unresponsiveness, overprotectiveness, or early separation.
Personality disorders are common and affect 10% to 15% of the population in the United States. Gender influences presence; for example, antisocial and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders are more common in men, whereas borderline, dependent, and histrionic personality disorders are more prevalent in women.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Photosensitivity reactions:
Causes
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Certain chemicals can cause a photosensitivity reaction, including dyes, coal tar, and furocoumarin compounds found in plants. The list of drugs that can cause photosensitivity reactions is extensive and includes many drugs within each of the following general categories: antibiotics (especially tetracycline), antidepressants, antihistamines, anticancer agents, antiparasitic agents, antipsychotic agents, diuretics, hypoglycemics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, sunscreens, and miscellaneous agents, such as cardiac glycosides, hormonal contraceptives, and acne medications.
Berlock dermatitis, a specific photosensitivity reaction, results from the use of oil of bergamot — a common component of perfumes, colognes, and pomades.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Agitation:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Affective disturbances
Agitation may occur in either the depressive or manic phase of affective disturbances and in personality disorders, such as borderline and antisocial personality disorders. The hallmark of the depressive form is depressed mood upon awakening, which eases during the day. Chronic anxiety may be mild or severe. Psychomotor agitation may be characterized by an inability to sit still, hand-wringing, pacing, and irritability. Other findings in the manic state may include decreased sleep, pressured speech, and grandiosity.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Mild to severe agitation occurs with hyperactivity, tremors, and anxiety. In delirium tremens, the potentially life-threatening stage of alcohol withdrawal, severe agitation accompanies hallucinations, insomnia, diaphoresis, and depressed mood. Pulse rate and temperature rise as withdrawal progresses; status epilepticus, cardiac arrhythmias, and shock can occur.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a common symptom that produces varying degrees of agitation. The patient may be unaware of his anxiety or may complain of it without knowing its cause. Other findings may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cool and clammy skin, frontal headache, back pain, insomnia, and tremors.
Chronic renal failure
Moderate to severe agitation occurs in chronic renal failure, which is marked by confusion and memory loss. The agitation is accompanied by diverse signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, mouth ulcers, ammonia breath odor, GI bleeding, pallor, edema, dry skin, and uremic frost.
Dementia
Mild to severe agitation can result from many common dementia syndromes, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. The patient may display a decrease in memory, attention span, problem-solving ability, and alertness. Hypoactivity, wandering behavior, hallucinations, aphasia, and insomnia may also occur.
Drug withdrawal syndrome
Findings vary with the drug but include mild to severe agitation, anxiety, abdominal cramps, diaphoresis, and anorexia. In opioid or barbiturate withdrawal, a decreased level of consciousness (LOC), seizures, and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate can also occur.
Hepatic encephalopathy
Agitation occurs only in fulminating encephalopathy. Other findings include drowsiness, stupor, fetor hepaticus, asterixis, and hyperreflexia.
Hypersensitivity reaction
Moderate to severe agitation may be the first sign of a hypersensitivity reaction. Depending on the severity of the reaction, agitation may be accompanied by urticaria, pruritus, and facial and dependent edema.
In anaphylactic shock, a potentially life-threatening reaction, agitation occurs rapidly along with apprehension, urticaria or diffuse erythema, warm and moist skin, paresthesia, pruritus, edema, dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, hypotension, and tachycardia. Abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur.
Hypoxemia
Beginning as restlessness, agitation rapidly worsens in hypoxemia. The patient may be confused and have impaired judgment and motor coordination. He may also have tachycardia, tachypnea, dyspnea, and cyanosis.
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
Agitation usually precedes other early signs and symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and vomiting. Increased ICP produces respiratory changes, such as Cheyne-Stokes, cluster, ataxic, or apneustic breathing; sluggish, nonreactive, or unequal pupils; widening pulse pressure; tachycardia; decreased LOC; seizures; and motor changes, such as decerebrate or decorticate posture.
Organic brain syndrome
In organic brain syndrome, agitation is manifested as hyperactivity, emotional lability, confusion, and memory loss. Slurred or incoherent speech and paranoid behavior may also occur.
Post–head trauma syndrome
Shortly—or even years—after injury, mild to severe agitation develops, characterized by disorientation, loss of concentration, angry outbursts, and emotional lability. Fatigue, wandering behavior, and poor judgment are other findings.
Vitamin B6 Deficiency
Agitation can range from mild to severe. Other effects include seizures, peripheral paresthesia, and dermatitis. Oculogyric crisis may also occur.
Other causes
Drugs
Mild to moderate agitation, which is commonly dose related, is an adverse effect of central nervous system stimulants—especially appetite suppressants, such as amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs; sympathomimetics such as ephedrine; caffeine; and theophylline.
Radiographic contrast media
Injection of a contrast medium during various diagnostic tests may produce moderate to severe agitation along with other signs of hypersensitivity.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Delusional disorders:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
Delusional disorders of later life strongly suggest a hereditary predisposition. At least one study has linked the development of delusional disorders to inferiority feelings in the family.
Some researchers suggest that delusional disorders are the product of specific early childhood experiences with an authoritarian family structure. Others hold that anyone with a sensitive personality is particularly vulnerable to developing a delusional disorder.
Certain medical conditions — head injury, chronic alcoholism, and deafness — and aging are known to increase the risk for delusional disorders. Predisposing factors linked to aging include isolation, lack of stimulating interpersonal relationships, physical illness, and impaired hearing and vision.
Severe stress (such as a move to a foreign country) may also precipitate a delusional disorder.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Personality disorders:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
Only recently have personality disorders been categorized in detail, and research continues to identify their causes. Various theories attempt to explain the origin of personality disorders.
❑ Biological theories hold that these disorders may stem from chromosomal and neuronal abnormalities or head trauma.
❑ Social theories hold that the disorders reflect learned responses, having much to do with reinforcement, modeling, and aversive stimuli as contributing factors.
❑ Psychodynamic theories hold that personality disorders reflect deficiencies in ego and superego development and are related to poor mother-child relationships that are characterized by unresponsiveness, overprotectiveness, or early separation.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Agitation:
Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Affectivedisturbance
Agitation may occur in depressed and manic phases of affectivedisturbance and in personality disorders, such as borderline and antisocial personality disorders. In its depressive form, chronic anxiety occurs with varying severity. The hallmark is depressed mood upon awakening, which eases during the day. Psychomotor agitation may be characterized by an inability to sit still, hand-wringing, pacing, and irritability. Other findings in manic states may include decreased sleep, pressured speech, and grandiosity.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
With alcohol withdrawal syndrome, mild to severe agitation occurs. It may be accompanied by hyperactivity, tremors, and anxiety. With delirium tremens, the potentially life-threatening stage of alcohol withdrawal, severe agitation accompanies hallucinations, insomnia, diaphoresis, and depressed mood. Pulse rate and temperature rise as withdrawal progresses; status epilepticus, cardiac exhaustion, and shock can occur.
Anxiety
Anxiety produces varying degrees of agitation. The patient may be unaware of his anxiety or may complain of it without knowing its cause. Other findings include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cool and clammy skin, frontal headache, back pain, insomnia, and tremors.
Chronic renal failure
Moderate to severe agitation occurs with chronic renal failure, marked especially by confusion and memory loss. The agitation is accompanied by diverse signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, mouth ulcers, ammonia breath odor, GI bleeding, pallor, edema, dry skin, and uremic frost.
Dementia
Mild to severe agitation related to dementia can result from many common syndromes, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. The patient may display a decrease in memory, attention span, problem-solving ability, and alertness. Hypoactivity, wandering behavior, hallucinations, aphasia, and insomnia may also occur.
Drug withdrawal syndrome
In drug withdrawal syndrome, mild to severe agitation occurs. Related findings vary with the drug but include anxiety, abdominal cramps, diaphoresis, and anorexia. With narcotic or barbiturate withdrawal, a decreased level of consciousness (LOC), seizures, and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate can also occur.
Hepatic encephalopathy
Agitation occurs with fulminating hepatic encephalopathy. Other findings include drowsiness, stupor, fetor hepaticus (musty, sweet breath odor), asterixis, and hyperreflexia. Lethargy, aberrant behavior, and apraxia may also occur.
Hypersensitivity reaction
Moderate to severe agitation may be the first sign of a hypersensitivity reaction. Depending on the severity of the reaction, agitation may be accompanied by urticaria, pruritus, and facial and dependent edema.
With anaphylactic shock, a potentially life-threatening reaction, agitation occurs rapidly along with apprehension, urticaria or diffuse erythema, skin that’s warm and moist, paresthesia, pruritus, edema, dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, hypotension, and tachycardia. Abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur.
Hypoxemia
Beginning as restlessness, agitation rapidly worsens with hypoxemia. The patient may be confused and have impaired judgment and motor coordination. He may also have tachycardia, tachypnea, dyspnea, and cyanosis.
Increased intracranial pressure
With increased intracranial pressure (ICP), agitation usually precedes other early signs and symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and vomiting. ICP produces respiratory changes, such as Cheyne-Stokes, cluster, ataxic, or apneustic breathing; sluggish, nonreactive, or unequal pupils; widening pulse pressure; tachycardia; decreased LOC; seizures; and motor changes, such as decerebrate or decorticate posture.
Organic brain syndrome
With organic brain syndrome, agitation is manifested as hyperactivity, emotional lability, confusion, and memory loss. Slurred or incoherent speech and paranoid behavior may also occur.
Post–head trauma syndrome
Shortly after — or even years after — head trauma, mild to severe agitation develops, characterized by disorientation, loss of concentration, angry outbursts, and emotional lability. Other findings include fatigue, wandering behavior, and poor judgment.
Vitamin B6 deficiency
With vitamin B6 deficiency, agitation can range from mild to severe. Other effects include seizures, peripheral paresthesia, and dermatitis. Oculogyric crisis may also occur.
Other causes
Drugs
Mild to moderate agitation, which is commonly dose related, develops as an adverse reaction to central nervous system stimulants — especially appetite suppressants, such as amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs; sympathomimetics such as ephedrine; caffeine; and theophylline.
Radiographic contrast media
Reaction to the contrast medium injected during various diagnostic tests produces moderate to severe agitation along with other signs of hypersensitivity.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Agitation:
Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome.Mild to severe agitation occurs in alcohol withdrawal syndrome, along with hyperactivity, tremors, and anxiety. With delirium, the potentially life-threatening stage of alcohol withdrawal, severe agitation accompanies hallucinations, insomnia, diaphoresis, and a depressed mood. The patient's pulse rate and temperature rise as withdrawal progresses; status epilepticus, cardiac exhaustion, and shock can occur.
Anxiety.Anxiety produces varying degrees of agitation. The patient may be unaware of his anxiety or may complain of it without knowing its cause. Other findings include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cool and clammy skin, frontal headache, back pain, insomnia, and tremors.
Dementia.Mild to severe agitation can result from many common syndromes, such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. The patient may display a decrease in memory, attention span, problem-solving ability, and alertness. Hypoactivity, wandering behavior, hallucinations, aphasia, and insomnia may also occur.
Drug withdrawal syndrome.Mild to severe agitation occurs in drug withdrawal syndrome. Related findings vary with the drug, but include anxiety, abdominal cramps, diaphoresis, and anorexia. With opioid or barbiturate withdrawal, a decreased level of consciousness (LOC), seizures, and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate can also occur.
Hepatic encephalopathy.Agitation occurs only with fulminating hepatic encephalopathy. Other findings include drowsiness, stupor, fetor hepaticus, asterixis, and hyperreflexia.
Hypersensitivity reaction.Moderate to severe agitation appears, possibly as the first sign of a reaction. Depending on the severity of the reaction, agitation may be accompanied by urticaria, pruritus, and facial and dependent edema.
With anaphylactic shock,a potentially life-threatening reaction, agitation occurs rapidly along with apprehension, urticaria or diffuse erythema, warm and moist skin, paresthesia, pruritus, edema, dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, hypotension, and tachycardia. Abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur.
Hypoxemia.Beginning as restlessness, agitation rapidly worsens. The patient may be confused and have impaired judgment and motor coordination. He may also have tachycardia, tachypnea, dyspnea, and cyanosis.
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP).Agitation usually precedes other early signs and symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and vomiting. Increased ICP produces respiratory changes, such as Cheyne-Stokes, cluster, ataxic, or apneustic breathing; sluggish, nonreactive, or unequal pupils; widening pulse pressure; tachycardia; a decreased LOC; seizures; and motor changes such as decerebrate or decorticate posture.
Post-head trauma syndrome.Shortly after, or even years after a head injury, mild to severe agitation may develop, characterized by disorientation, loss of concentration, angry outbursts, and emotional lability. Other findings include fatigue, wandering behavior, and poor judgment.
Vitamin B6 deficiency.Agitation can range from mild to severe. Other effects include seizures, peripheral paresthesia, and dermatitis. Oculogyric crisis may also occur.
Other causes
Drugs.Mild to moderate agitation, which is commonly dose related, develops as an adverse reaction to central nervous system stimulants—especially appetite suppressants, such as amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs; sympathomimetics, such as ephedrine; caffeine; and theophylline.
Radiographic contrast media.Reaction to the contrast medium injected during various diagnostic tests produces moderate to severe agitation along with other signs of hypersensitivity.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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