Primary and Secondary Capacities in the Context of Positive Psychotherapy in Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder: The Relationship with Criminal Behaviors and Anger.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of primary (PCs) and secondary capacities (SCs) in individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and the effects of these capacities on delinquent behaviors and anger levels.

Methods: 101 male patients aged 18 years and over with a diagnosis of ASPD were divided into two groups as those with a criminal ASPD (cASPD) diagnosis (n=37) and those with a non-criminal ASPD (ncASPD) diagnosis (n=64). Participants were evaluated using a sociodemographic form, Wiesbaden's Inventory of Positive Psychotherapy and Family Therapy (WIPPF-2) and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 22.0 program; significance level was taken as p0.05.

Results: PCs, SCs and anger control levels of people with ASPD were lower while trait anger, anger expression and anger import were higher than the control group. In cASPD, among the PCs, belief (β=0.796, p=0.032), hope (β=-1.069, p=0.011), relationship (β=-0.980, p=0.007) and sexuality (β=0.937, p=0.021) predicted anger-out, and among the SAs politeness (β=-1.020, p=0.002) and reliability (β=1.140, p=0.001) predicted trait anger level. In ncASPD, patience predicted anger-out (β=-1.752, p=0.001) and anger control (β=1.468, p=0.002); belief (β=1.468, p=0.005) and trust (β=-0.845, p=0.002) predicted anger control.

Conclusions: Positive psychotherapy can be effective in improving PCs and SCs of individuals with ASPD, improving interpersonal relationships, reducing criminal behaviors, anger management and psychotherapeutic treatment of ASPD.