Trait of a Sociopathic person

[Bernied213]

My 46 year old daughter has been diagnosed with antisocial sociopathic personality disorder. I was surprised to to find out she is supporting herself by shoplifting high-end clothing and selling it on ebay. Is this a common trait for this disorder? ...What can I do?

[Jaquta]

That's reassuring that perhaps they aren't so difficult to treat.

Perhaps someone should be reminding the health professionals who treat us?  
Often these are the people who discriminate against us, tell us we're untreatable and basically starve us of any hope of ever achieving any semblance of a normal life.

Isn't that saying the same thing?  Isn't a diagnosis comprised of behavioral traits?

J

[Jaquta]

I think you'll find it is.
You could try looking up the dsm-iv criteria for the disorder.  

What can you do to stop the stealing?  To help?

Personality by its nature is difficult to treat and change.  From what I've read antisocial personality disorder is the hardest personality disorder to treat.

I would think obtaining excellent therapy for your daughter would be really important.

I'm actually finding it really hard to comment as most people say people with this disorder don't care or care very little and don't acknowledge they have a problem.
I am not prepared to say that a person should be locked up and have the key thrown away, I think that is grossly unfair.  I think these people have a right to treatment too.

I don't know enough to be able to offer constructive advice.
I found myself starting to judge the disorder (and I guess that must include those with it).  I have a personality disorder but I'm not sure whether what is applicable to the one I have is applicable to the one your daughter has.  I don't know what to advise.

I'm sorry I couldn't help.  I'll be interested in reading the doctor's response too.
This must have come as a huge shock to you.

J

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I would not worry too much about the diagnosis, but look at the behavior and try to help your daughter understand her desparation, and her inability to support herself in a healthier way. If you can get her professional help, that would be best. Often times the diagnosis of personality disorder is over used, and only in very severe cases is it so difficult to treat.