Temporal stability of diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder in male alcohol dependent patients

We evaluated the temporal stability of diagnostic criteria for antisocial p ersonality disorder in 432 male alcohol dependent patients. Indicators for temporal stability were criterion continuation (i,e., the proportion of cur rent or recent diagnoses among those with a lifetime diagnosis) and criteri on duration (i.e,, the length of time between the first occurrence and the last occurrence). In addition, the effect of diagnostic status (ASPD- versu s ASPD+) on stability was examined, Among the criteria, "no regard for the truth" showed consistently high stability; "recklessness" showed moderate t o high stability; "inconsistent work behavior," "failure to meet financial obligations," "failure to plan ahead" and "parental irresponsibility" showe d consistently low stability, The continuation and duration parameters dive rged with respect to "nonconformism" and "irritability/aggressiveness." Tem poral stability for "nonconformism" was consistently greater among those wi th ASPD than among those without, It was concluded that both continuation a nd duration rates clearly differentiated among criteria. This new criterion -based approach seems to be useful as a strategy for improving the ASPD cri teria set.