What role does pharmacotherapy play in the management of Antisocial Personality Disorder, and what medications are commonly used?

Role of pharmacotherapy in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD): Pharmacological interventions are not routinely recommended for the treatment of antisocial personality disorder itself or for associated behaviours such as aggression, anger, and impulsivity.

Medications commonly used: There is no specific medication licensed or routinely used to treat ASPD directly. However, pharmacotherapy may be used to treat comorbid mental disorders such as depression and anxiety in people with ASPD, following the relevant NICE guidelines for those conditions. When prescribing for comorbidities, clinicians should be vigilant about adherence, potential misuse, and overdose risks.

For people with ASPD who misuse substances, pharmacological treatments should align with existing national guidance for drug and alcohol misuse disorders.