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So. I'm a sociopath.

#101
>>Last week my psychiatrist diagnosed me as a sociopath. I meet almost all of the symptoms. I don't know how (or if) I feel about this. Is this a bad thing? How would you feel and what would you do if you were diagnosed this way? There's no way for me to "cure" this apparently, so idk where's to go with my life now, or what to think of myself. Just confused. Any advice is appreciated.

I'm not a doctor, but what I understand to be a sociopath would not be the least bit concerned with the diagnosis. Second opinion ?
 
#102
Rickengeezer said:
I don't really need to "look up" on this topic. Regardless, the statement wasn't whether the frontal lobe is important for human functioning, but whether it has any sensitivity or specificity for diagnosing ASPD. And it doesn't....it isn't sensitive (i.e., Yang et al, 2005 Biological Psychiatry, no difference between controls and "successful" psychopaths) and it isn't specific (i.e., findings of reduced frontal gray matter in schizophrenia, alcohol dependence, and a host of other conditions). Perhaps the MRI was ordered to rule out a tumor or lesion in the frontal lobe (or elsewhere), so it might not have been an unnecessary test depending upon the behavior being exhibited. But it is almost entirely useless as a diagnostic indicator for ASPD. If you have a citation reporting its diagnostic efficiency for this use, I'd be interested to see it.
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Psychopathy and sociopathy (aspd) are two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT disorders.
 
#103
RED J said:
>>Last week my psychiatrist diagnosed me as a sociopath. I meet almost all of the symptoms. I don't know how (or if) I feel about this. Is this a bad thing? How would you feel and what would you do if you were diagnosed this way? There's no way for me to "cure" this apparently, so idk where's to go with my life now, or what to think of myself. Just confused. Any advice is appreciated.

I'm not a doctor, but what I understand to be a sociopath would not be the least bit concerned with the diagnosis. Second opinion ?
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Read the whole thread. I've had three other opinions.
 
#104
NekoTheWolf said:
Psychopathy and sociopathy (aspd) are two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT disorders.
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Sorry, but they aren't "completely different". Relationships between psychopathy and ASPD measures are about the same as interrelationships between different ASPD measures. The ASPD group is generally more inclusive (i.e., more heterogeneous) but the constructs have been steadily converging since the detour provided in 1980 by DSM-III, which relied heavily on behavioral signs that ended up being way too influenced by variables like social class.

As for interventions, you might try DBT as someone mentioned earlier, or perhaps a group counseling setting with other folks that have similar personality styles. Part of the trick is getting better at understanding the perspectives of others, and acting with that perspective in mind. Life just ultimately goes better if you are able to do so.
 
#105
Rickengeezer said:
Sorry, but they aren't "completely different". Relationships between psychopathy and ASPD measures are about the same as interrelationships between different ASPD measures. The ASPD group is generally more inclusive (i.e., more heterogeneous) but the constructs have been steadily converging since the detour provided in 1980 by DSM-III, which relied heavily on behavioral signs that ended up being way too influenced by variables like social class.

As for interventions, you might try DBT as someone mentioned earlier, or perhaps a group counseling setting with other folks that have similar personality styles. Part of the trick is getting better at understanding the perspectives of others, and acting with that perspective in mind. Life just ultimately goes better if you are able to do so.
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I'm hoping my life will go better, just having a hard time imagining it any other way.
 
#112
NekoTheWolf said:
Read the whole thread. I've had three other opinions.
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No offense intended. I acknowledge that people will have and express opinions, but they are not always well informed ones.
People on internet forums express all manner of opinions on medical and psychological matters and have no reservations about thinking they know more than professionals about such things.My comment was simply suggesting getting perhaps a second medical opinion (or two even) .
I'll just say my experience in life has proven this to be valuable. Everyone's situation is unique.
Best wishes in dealing with your situation.
 
#113
RED J said:
No offense intended. I acknowledge that people will have and express opinions, but they are not always well informed ones.
People on internet forums express all manner of opinions on medical and psychological matters and have no reservations about thinking they know more than professionals about such things.My comment was simply suggesting getting perhaps a second medical opinion (or two even) .
I'll just say my experience in life has proven this to be valuable. Everyone's situation is unique.
Best wishes in dealing with your situation.
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No. I meant three other opinions from doctors.
 
#115
NekoTheWolf said:
I think we should make up a rule about this thread, only post if you have looked up the definition of sociopathy before you post. Lol
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Sociopathy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sociopathy commonly refers to conditions similar to or synonymous with the following:
Psychopathy
Antisocial personality disorder
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Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), also called dissocial personality disorder, is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. There may be an impoverished moral sense or conscience and a history of crime, legal problems, impulsive and aggressive behavior.
Antisocial personality disorder is the name used in the diagnosis manual DSM, whereas dissocial personality disorder is the name used in the ICD. Both manuals have similar but not identical criteria.[1] Both have stated that their diagnosis has also been known as psychopathy or sociopathy, though the criteria are different to some other commonly used assessments.[2][3][4][5][6] Antisocial personality disorder falls under the dramatic/erratic cluster of personality disorders.[7]
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Psychopathy (/saɪˈkɒpəθi/) (or sociopathy (/ˈsoʊsiəˌpæθi/)) is defined as either an aspect of personality or as a personality disorder, characterized by enduring dissocial or antisocial behavior, a diminished capacity for empathy or remorse, and poor behavioral controls or fearless dominance. There are various definitions which are only partly overlapping and sometimes appear contradictory.[1]
The 4th and 5th editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) have a diagnosis of Antisocial (Dissocial) Personality Disorder (ASPD), which states: "The essential feature of antisocial personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. This pattern has also been referred to as psychopathy, sociopathy, or dyssocial personality disorder." Although no psychiatric or psychological organization has sanctioned a diagnosis titled "psychopathy", assessments of psychopathy characteristics are widely used in criminal justice settings in some nations, and may have important consequences for individuals.[2] The term is also used by the general public, in popular press, and in fictional portrayals.[3]
Although American psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley's work on psychopathy probably influenced the initial diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality reaction/disturbance in the DSM, as did American psychologist George E. Partridge's work on sociopathy, in 1980 the somewhat different diagnosis of ASPD was introduced. However, Canadian psychologist Robert D. Hare repopularised the construct of psychopathy in criminology with his Psychopathy Checklist.[1][2][4][5][6][7]
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Sociopathy[edit]
The term sociopathy may have been first introduced in 1909 in Germany by biological psychiatrist Karl Birnbaum and in 1930 in the US by educational psychologist George E. Partridge, as an alternative to, or a subtype of, the concept of psychopathy.[18] It was used to indicate that the defining feature is violation of social norms, or antisocial behavior, and has often also been associated with postulating social as well as biological causation. The element socio had been used in compound words since around 1880.[19][18]
Hare noted in a 1999 popular science book that sociopathy and psychopathy are often used interchangeably, but in some cases the term sociopathy is preferred because it is less likely than is psychopathy to be confused with psychosis, whereas in other cases which term is used may "reflect the user's views on the origins and determinates of the disorder". Hare contended that the term sociopathy is preferred by those that see the causes as due to social factors and early environment, and the term psychopathy preferred by those who believe that there are psychological, biological, and genetic factors involved in addition to environmental factors.[20] However others point out that Hare appears to really believe that biological factors are predominant.[21] The term sociopathy was originally intended to indicate that social problems are the defining feature, whatever the causes.[22][23][24][25]
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#FOLLOWYOUROWNADVICE
 
#116
I'll jump in. My response is based on these things:

1) This is not a troll thread;
2) Your psychiatrist is competent;
3) The diagnosis is correct;
4) You actually are interested in hearing what other people think.

Here's something nobody has brought up: What if, untreated, your symptoms and patterns of behavior get worse? I don't think I read anything in the thread about disease progression, either how it has progressed in the past or what a usual course of events might be in the future.

I bring this up because it seems like you may have a bit of a moral obligation to the rest of us to get treated before you become a danger to society at large, if that's a direction the disease could go. After all, you now have a) awareness, and b) a formal diagnosis of a condition that strikes me as potentially very troublesome for people not only in your direct sphere of influence (ie, people who choose to come in contact with you), but people who you choose to interact with who could become either innocent victims or collateral damage of/to your behavior.

It also seems to me that the very nature of the illness would keep you from making a perfectly unbiased decision on whether or not to seek treatment. I mean, if you don't really care, you don't really care.

I have a quirk that often causes me to be "tone deaf" to the thoughts and feelings of other people. "Impaired perspective-taking" is one term that's used to describe it. Basically it just doesn't occur to me to think how what I'm about to do or say might impact someone else. If I'm clued in, I might or might not "get it;" it's possible that someone might have to really spell it out. But when I *do* get it, it's often an "ah-ha" thing, and I can then make a decision to say, "oh, screw 'em" and do what I was going to do anyway, or say, "I see that I should reconsider."

This freedom to make a decision is important. It gives me power over situations. Sure, I can still choose to be a jerk, but I have an option rather than just being carried along by whatever I was going to do in the first place. Maybe treatment would help you get to a similar place - it's quite possible that your default mode will always be to be a jerk, to oversimplify greatly, but maybe there would be some potential benefits in learning a new way of behaving.

Seems like treatment is worth a try. My thought would be to start on the "without drugs" path, and leave that as an option if you want to explore it later.

PM me if you wish.
 
#117
blastoff99 said:
I'll jump in. My response is based on these things:

1) This is not a troll thread;
2) Your psychiatrist is competent;
3) The diagnosis is correct;
4) You actually are interested in hearing what other people think.

Here's something nobody has brought up: What if, untreated, your symptoms and patterns of behavior get worse? I don't think I read anything in the thread about disease progression, either how it has progressed in the past or what a usual course of events might be in the future.

I bring this up because it seems like you may have a bit of a moral obligation to the rest of us to get treated before you become a danger to society at large, if that's a direction the disease could go. After all, you now have a) awareness, and b) a formal diagnosis of a condition that strikes me as potentially very troublesome for people not only in your direct sphere of influence (ie, people who choose to come in contact with you), but people who you choose to interact with who could become either innocent victims or collateral damage of/to your behavior.

It also seems to me that the very nature of the illness would keep you from making a perfectly unbiased decision on whether or not to seek treatment. I mean, if you don't really care, you don't really care.

I have a quirk that often causes me to be "tone deaf" to the thoughts and feelings of other people. "Impaired perspective-taking" is one term that's used to describe it. Basically it just doesn't occur to me to think how what I'm about to do or say might impact someone else. If I'm clued in, I might or might not "get it;" it's possible that someone might have to really spell it out. But when I *do* get it, it's often an "ah-ha" thing, and I can then make a decision to say, "oh, screw 'em" and do what I was going to do anyway, or say, "I see that I should reconsider."

This freedom to make a decision is important. It gives me power over situations. Sure, I can still choose to be a jerk, but I have an option rather than just being carried along by whatever I was going to do in the first place. Maybe treatment would help you get to a similar place - it's quite possible that your default mode will always be to be a jerk, to oversimplify greatly, but maybe there would be some potential benefits in learning a new way of behaving.

Seems like treatment is worth a try. My thought would be to start on the "without drugs" path, and leave that as an option if you want to explore it later.

PM me if you wish.
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Thanks for the perspective and support man. I will definitely keep you guys posted about what I decide to do.
 

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