28 september 2021 – 22:47
There is still much to be gained in how we deal with the problem of antisocial behaviour. Arno van Dam (Special professor at Tranzo, scientific center for care and welfare) argues this in his inaugural lecture on 1 October at Tilburg University. By accepting his chair ‘Antisocial behaviour, psychiatry and society’, Van Dam hopes to increase access to care for people with antisocial personality traits, reduce stigma and promote social participation. The chair is established by GGZ Westelijk Noord-Brabant. (GGZ WNB).
Whether antisocial behavior is criminal, confused or disturbed depends on both societal and psychiatrist views on illness and health. The current definition of antisocial personality disorder is questionable. Is everyone who receives this diagnosis really mentally ill?
Arno van Dam believes that the interplay between individual behavior and its social assessment cannot be viewed separately: “When studying antisocial behavior, it is important not only to pay attention to the behavior of individuals, but also to society. who evaluates this behavior and qualifies it as desirable, undesirable or disturbed.”
In addition, it appears that people with antisocial personality problems often do not receive a warm welcome in mental health care and that they are regularly excluded from care. It is a missed opportunity for the GGZ to help people with serious problems, but also to increase the quality of life and safety in society. Van Dam: “It is important that mental health care adapts to the needs and characteristics of these people. This can be done by changing the organization of care, but also the care itself through more flexibility, less bureaucracy and more use of technology. In this way, as a GGZ, you do more to prevent psychological distress and have a greater social impact. But the GGZ cannot do it alone. There needs to be more cooperation with social partners. Not everyone who behaves antisocially is mentally disturbed. Mental health care is not the solution to all problems.”
About Arno van Dam
Arno van Dam is a clinical psychologist and head of scientific research at GGZ WNB working in regular specialist and forensic psychiatry. He is a member of the national expert platform for Antisocial Behavior of the Knowledge Center for Personality Disorders and a consultant in the field of antisocial behavior at the Center for Consultation and Expertise (CCE) and research coordinator at the National Support Center for Extremism (LSE). He has published several articles and books on treating aggression problems and motivating people with antisocial behavior for treatment.
Arno van Dam delivers his inaugural address entitled ‘The antisocial personality disorder, an interplay between psychiatry and society’ on October 1.
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