Antisocial Personality Disorder — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModeratePersonality DisordersAntisocial Personality DisorderMRCPsych Paper B

A 40-year-old man with antisocial personality disorder and a history of offending is attending a forensic outpatient service. He has no current comorbid mental disorder requiring treatment and there is no indication for hospital admission. Which intervention should be considered specifically to address his antisocial and offending behaviour?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — A group-based cognitive and behavioural intervention

The correct answer is A. NICE CG77 recommends considering group-based cognitive and behavioural interventions for people with antisocial personality disorder in community or mental health services. For those with a history of offending, these interventions should focus on reducing offending and other antisocial behaviour; their intensity and duration should reflect assessed risk. Medication, including mood stabilisers, should not routinely be used to treat antisocial personality disorder itself or associated aggression, anger or impulsivity, although comorbid disorders should be treated appropriately. Intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy is not the recommended disorder-specific intervention. A community treatment order is a legal framework rather than a psychological treatment and requires relevant Mental Health Act criteria. Hospital admission is not indicated solely by the diagnosis, particularly without an acute mental disorder or inpatient-level risk.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Antisocial personality disorder: prevention and management (CG77), recommendations 1.4.2.1–1.4.2.4 and 1.4.3.1. Published 2009; updated 2013. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg77/chapter/Recommendations