Antisocial personality disorder evaluation with the prisoner’s dilemma

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of this study is to evaluate cooperation problems in antisocial disorder with the prisoner’s dilemma game, which, in mathematical game theory, is the paradigm of the «non-zero» games (mutual benefit from cooperation).

Methods. We have designed a computer version of the prisoner’s dilemma (CDT-BD) that confronts the patient to a simulation of a reciprocal exchange situation. IPDE provided us a categorical and dimensional evaluation of 26 controls from the community and 40 methadone patients. Only methadone patients obtained an antisocial diagnosis: 20 in the category of positive antisocial and 10 in the probable antisocial category. Patients also fullfilled TCI and MACH-IV.

Results. CDT-BD is, according to the parent’s opinion (mothers), a good correlation of real life behavior. CDT-BD shows a statistically significant poorer cooperation of antisocial patients this is catego rical evaluation (ve rsus in controls) and in dimensional evaluation true both for variables that measure non-cooperation due to the patient’s initiative and those as a response to the computer provocation. This may be due to a tendency of antisocials to use interchange situations «zero game» strategies (you win what the other player loses) instead of non-zero games strategies. Non-cooperative responses are correlated to high scores on the MACH-IV scale (manipulative behavior and cognition) and revengeful in Treatment and Character Inventory (TCI).

Conclusions. CDT-BD allows us to generate and test new hypotheses on the causes of the cooperation problems in antisocial patients using game theory paradigms.