Service provision for men with antisocial personality disorder who make contact with mental health services

Concerns have been raised about the quality of health services for people with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). As part of a randomized trial of cognitive behaviour therapy for men with ASPD, we collected prospective data on service utilization over a 12‐month period. Among the 52 men that participated, 96% had evidence of anxiety disorder and 64% met criteria for probable alcohol misuse. Almost half the sample presented to emergency medical services and 21% were admitted to a mental health inpatient unit during the following year. Despite this, only 11 (21%) were provided with follow‐up care from mental health services. Levels of alcohol and drug misuse were lower among those that were given follow‐up (27.3% compared with 63.4%, p < 0.05). Although services for people with personality disorder in Britain have expanded, most men with ASPD do not receive follow‐up care from mental health services.