Dysfunctional beliefs and antisocial personality disorder

Abstract

Beck identified dysfunctional beliefs associated with personality disorders and these form the basis of the Personality Belief Questionnaire (PBQ). The PBQ has not yet been empirically examined in relation to antisocial personality disorder (ASPD); here, we examined the associations between PBQ antisocial beliefs and ASPD diagnosis, identified using the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE). Adult male prisoners were grouped as ASPD only (n = 17), ASPD plus another personality disorder (n = 14), and no personality disorder (n = 18). Our hypotheses were: the ASPD only group would score higher on the PBQ antisocial scale than other scales; the ASPD only group would score higher on the PBQ antisocial scale than would those with no personality disorder; and the PBQ antisocial scale would best predict group membership. Men with ASPD only did not score highest on the PBQ antisocial scale, and, although they held more antisocial beliefs than men with no personality disorder, they also held significantly more dysfunctional beliefs on most other scales. Hence, antisocial beliefs are not a distinguishing feature. The PBQ antisocial scale did not discriminate groups, but the avoidant and paranoid scales did. The PBQ antisocial scale does not relate to antisocial personality disorder, although it may relate to primary psychopathy.