Teen Treatment Programs in California
Antisocial Personality Disorder in Teens
Contact Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center today to learn more.
Antisocial personality disorder in teens can severely hinder their personal growth, prevent them from sustaining relationships, and even put them in harm’s way. Teens with this condition often participate in risky activities without caring about the pain it may cause themselves, their peers, or their families. As a parent, this condition can be extremely concerning and confusing. Fortunately, Hillcrest offers personalized treatment for antisocial personality disorder in teens. Our programs are designed to help teenagers learn constructive ways to identify and address the symptoms of their disorder so that they can effectively move forward in their lives.
Contact us today to learn more about our teen mental health treatment centers.
What is Antisocial Personality Disorder in Teens?
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in teens is marked by an ongoing pattern of disregarding the feelings and rights of other people. ASPD may present itself in multiple ways such as lying, cheating, breaking laws, stealing, or participating in risky, even dangerous, behaviors. Those with this condition commonly display deceitfulness, aggression, and manipulation. They often have little to no remorse for the damage and hurt they cause.
As a result of ASPD, individuals have a difficult time establishing and maintaining healthy relationships and friendships. This is because they have a lack of empathy and are not typically able to appropriately comprehend or care about how other people feel. Furthermore, they often show no respect for rules, act impulsively, and blame others for their own problems. Due to the serious and even violent nature of this disorder, it is critical that parents recognize these destructive tendencies in their teen and pursue professional intervention.
Is Antisocial Personality Disorder Considered A Mental Illness?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), antisocial personality disorder is recognized as a mental illness. As with other mental health conditions, ASPD is characterized by ongoing patterns of behavior that notably deviate from societal norms and result in emotional distress or disruption in a person’s ability to function. Indicators of this disorder typically surface in adolescence or early adulthood. It is treated similarly to other mental illnesses with a combination of different therapeutic modalities.
Signs and Symptoms of Teenage Antisocial Personality Disorder
Parents need to be aware of the behaviors correlated with antisocial personality disorder so that they can recognize them in their child and seek early treatment. Common signs and symptoms that are indicative of this disorder include:
- Frequently acting on impulse
- Lying and manipulative behavior
- Ongoing disregard for authority, rules, and boundaries
- Poor decision making
- Displacing blame on others when the person makes a mistake or has an issue
- Engaging in risky behaviors such as substance misuse, stealing, and cheating
- Trouble forming and sustaining relationships
- Lack of remorse or inability to show empathy
- Acting out violently or aggressively
- Continuously violating the rights of others without exhibiting guilt or shame
- Neglecting the safety of others or themselves
- A pattern of conflicts with family members, peers, or even the law
- Difficulty with authority figures such as teachers or parents
Causes of Antisocial Personality Disorder
There is not one known cause of antisocial personality disorder in teens. However, environmental, genetic, and neurological influences can play a role in the development of this condition. The specifics of these factors are outlined below.
Environmental: Childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect can play a role in the development of antisocial personality disorder in teens. This is because it impacts a child’s ability to regulate emotions, differentiate between healthy and unhealthy behaviors, and effectively feel empathy.
Genetic: Fluctuations in the levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine have been associated with the violent and impulsive nature of ASPD. Furthermore, those who have close family members with personality disorders are at an elevated risk of developing a disorder themselves.
Neurological: Abnormalities in the areas of the brain such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex can cause behaviors linked to ASPD in teenagers. This can affect an individual’s ability to control impulses, process emotions, manage aggression, and comprehend the repercussions of harmful behaviors.
Our Treatment for Antisocial Personality Disorder in California
Our programs are designed to help teens manage the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder so that they can make long-term improvements in their day-to-day lives. While in our programs, teens participate in a wide variety of evidence-based interventions, educational courses, holistic modalities, and experiential therapies. The teen programs offered at Hillcrest are highlighted below.
Residential Treatment
Our residential program allows teens to heal and grow in a secure and immersive setting. There, they can focus on treating the underlying causes of their condition and enhancing their coping techniques without outside pressures or triggers. Participants live at our comfortable facility throughout the duration of their program and engage in a consistent, balanced schedule.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The partial hospitalization program (PHP) offered at Hillcrest provides an intensive level of care while integrating an appropriate amount of freedom into treatment. Teens usually attend sessions five days a week that last for the majority of the day. This type of programming is ideal as a step down from residential treatment, but may also be appropriate for teens who are unable to live away from their home environment.
How Do We Treat Antisocial Personality Disorder in Teens?
The goal of ASPD treatment in teens is to teach them ways to identify negative behaviors and learn healthy coping mechanisms so that they can improve their actions and thought patterns. As a result, they are better equipped to control impulses, regulate emotions, manage stress, communicate effectively, and display empathy. Treatment services offered at our comprehensive facility include:
- Education: Our education program allows your teen to maintain their academic progress in a setting conducive to their unique learning style.
- Behavioral Therapy: Behavioral therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), center on identifying negative ways of thinking and acting and replacing them with improved thought patterns and behaviors.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Psychodynamic therapy is designed to help teens process unconscious conflicts and experiences that may play a role in their ASPD.
- Interpersonal Therapy: Interpersonal therapy helps teens with ASPD learn ways to appropriately feel and show empathy so that they can cultivate meaningful connections.
- Family Therapy: By involving loved ones in treatment, teens are able to work with their family to improve communication and foster a healthy home environment.
- Personal Development: Personal development courses help improve the symptoms of ASPD as it promotes self-awareness, accountability, and emotional regulation.
- Equine Therapy: By interacting with and tending to horses, teens with ASPD have the chance to practice impulse control, conflict resolution, empathy, and social abilities.
- Recovery Management Therapy: This strategy ensures teens maintain progress by supplying them with ongoing support and resources.
- Expressive Therapy: Activities like listening to music, writing, and making art can help teens explore and communicate their thoughts and emotions while mitigating stress.
- Outdoor Therapy: Nature-centered activities allow teens a healing space to clear their minds, interact socially, process emotions, and reduce stress levels.
Why Hillcrest?
Located at the base of scenic Agoura Hills, Hillcrest offers residential programs designed to treat the unique and complex nature of adolescents. Intended for those between 12 and 18, our extensive treatment services guide teens and their parents toward a healthier, happier future. We provide specialized mental health treatment for conditions such as antisocial personality disorder. Our dedicated staff members work diligently to create custom treatment plans tailored to the specific needs and goals of each of our clients.
The environment we provide is nurturing, comfortable, and structured. We know that consistency and familiarity are key components of fostering personal development and emotional stability. That’s why we provide teens with a reliable schedule that includes a variety of therapeutic interventions. That being said, balance is important to us. We ensure each teen gets ample time for rest, creative outlets, and fresh air activities. We not only want your teen to excel while in our programming, but to gain the tools needed to make ongoing improvements in their emotional, mental, and physical health.
Find Treatment for Antisocial Personality Disorder in California
As a parent, you want your child to succeed personally, academically, and socially. We understand how troubling it can be when a mental health condition gets in the way of your teen’s progress. At Hillcrest, we are equipped to provide your child with all of the skills they need to advance in every aspect of life. Like you, we are committed to their ultimate fulfillment and well-being. To learn more about how we can help, give us a call or visit our admissions page today.
Enroll Your Teen In Our Antisocial Personality Disorder Program Today
You don’t have to face this journey alone. Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center is here to help your teen—and your family—find hope, healing, and a brighter future. As one of the top adolescent dual diagnosis treatment centers, we’re committed to providing exceptional care tailored to your child’s needs.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our programs. Let Hillcrest be your partner in recovery and your guide to a healthier tomorrow.