Although rates of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in women appe
ar to be increasing, there is very little study of this disorder in wo
men. We present the characteristics of 22 women with ASPD who were ide
ntified in a general-population survey. These women have high rates of
marital separation, chronic unemployment, and dependence on the state
. They also have high rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders, not onl
y substance dependence but also depression, anxiety and suicidal behav
ior. They frequently use psychiatric services yet have received very l
ittle systematic study. Research is needed to determine if risk factor
s, management and prognosis are similar to that of males.