Mental Health Professionals' Attitudes toward Clients with Antisocial Personality Disorder

Abstract

Clients with personality disorder are treated throughout the United States' healthcare system. Research suggests that mental health professionals' attitudes' toward clients with personality disorders are poor. However, research specific to clients with antisocial personality disorder was lacking. The current study examined the influence of social learning factors (i.e., level of clinical contact and history of criminal victimization) on mental health professionals' attitudes toward clients with antisocial personality disorder. The population of study was Medicaid-approved providers. The purposive sample included 98 Medicaid-approved mental health providers in North Carolina. The study used an online survey design, and participants completed an author-developed Demographic Questionnaire and the Adapted-Attitudes toward Personality Disorders Questionnaire. Three research questions examined the main effects of level of clinical contact, history of criminal victimization, and interaction effects on mental health professionals' attitudes toward clients with antisocial personality disorder. A factorial MANOVA and follow-up univariate ANOVAs revealed a statistically significant main effect for level of clinical contact with clients with antisocial personality disorder on participants' attitudes scores as measured by the Adapted- Attitudes toward Personality Disorders Questionnaire. No main effect for history of criminal victimization nor interaction effect was detected. Findings support that the social learning factor of level of clinical contact significantly influences mental health professionals' attitudes toward clients with antisocial personality disorder. Findings hold implications for mental health professionals, mental health supervisors, mental health educators, and mental health researchers.