High Prognostic Specificity of Antisocial Personality Disorder in Patients with Drug Dependence: Results from a Five‐Year Follow‐up

Abstract

A sample of 125 consecutive patients from a Swedish detoxification unit were followed up at five years. Register data on criminal behavior were retrieved for 99% of all subjects, including those who were deceased at follow-up, and 76% of living subjects were interviewed. A diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) at intake was associated with incarceration, continuous drug use, dependence on welfare support, and fulfilling criteria of adult ASPD at follow-up. Regardless of ASPD status, a decline was seen in drug-related convictions, but subjects with ASPD were found to continue to commit other crimes.