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"   Question I really need some information and advice on helping my 21-year-old friend.  Since she was 14 she has been very depressed and has seen a counsellor who said that she had borderline personality disorder.  This diagnosis continued although at around the age of 15 her mother noticed that her behaviour was changing to become more aggressive, violent and unruly, with a lot of pent up anger.  By 16 it was clear that she was no longer suffering with a borderline personality disorder, but severe depression that she would not admit to, as well as some other mental illness.  It was only when she was 18 that she was diagnosed as in fact having an antisocial personality disorder.  Finally six months ago she was told she was a sociopath.  I feel very confused, as I don&amp;#039;t t know what this is and how to help her.  Any advice would be great.   Answer A sociopath is someone who has a psychopathic personality disorder.  The following are common traits of an individual with the condition;  Typically they have a callous unconcern for the feelings of others. They tend to be irresponsible and disregard normal social rules and obligations. There is incapacity to maintain on-going relationships although often there is no particular difficulty in establishing them.  They cannot tolerate frustration and easily become aggressive or violent.  Guilt is not a feeling they experience and they rarely learn from past problems including any lessons regarding being punished for what they may have done. They also often blame other people and explain away their conflict with society by making excuses. Persistent irritability is a common feature too, as is lying and fighting.  Does this sound like your friend?  If so, she has probably been correctly diagnosed.  Unfortunately sociopathy is difficult to treat and yields disappointing results.  It is part of the underlying personality and as such has a hereditary component.  Medications have a limited role and are only used to relieve stress and anxiety.  Behavioural psychotherapy can help your friend deal with stressful situations and cope with frustration and psychotherapy in a group setting can be beneficial.  If supportive relationships can be forged where firm boundaries are established to define the limits of acceptable behaviour by the use of a contract there could well be good progress made. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As Dissociative identity disorder Do I have a personality disorder? I think I have borderline personality disorder What is a personality disorder? What triggers a personality disorder?  Last updated 26.06.2007 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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