Jj. Cecero et al., Concurrent and predictive validity of antisocial personality disorder subtyping among substance abusers, J NERV MENT, 187(8), 1999, pp. 478-486
Three hundred seventy inpatient and outpatient substance abusers were divid
ed according to presence and subtype of antisocial personality disorder (AP
D) into groups comparing: a) adult antisocial behavior (AAB) versus full AP
D; b) APD with low versus high sociopathy; c) APD with versus without lifet
ime depression; and d) APD with versus without other axis II disorders. Mul
tivariate regression was used to predict the unique contribution to the var
iance in baseline and 12-month follow-up measures of substance use, psychia
tric severity, and personality. The presence of comorbid axis II pathology
was the strongest predictor of baseline severity in all three domains. APD
substance abusers with Lifetime depression exhibited greater baseline to fo
llow-up reductions in psychiatric severity than those APD substance abusers
without a history of depression. All APD subtypes improved over time with
treatment, suggesting that this diagnosis does not necessarily indicate poo
r prognosis.