"Sociopathy" and its synonyms: inappropriate diagnoses in child psychiatry

The use of the diagnosis "sociopathy" and its synonyms hinders the search for other kinds of symptomatology, the recognition of which might lead to appropriate therapeutic intervention. The authors therefore suggest that the terms "sociopathic personality," "antisocial personality," and "acting out aggressive reaction of childhood or adolescence" be eliminated as primary diagnoses from the psychiatric nomenclature for children or adolescents. Two case reports are presented to emphasize the damage these diagnoses can cause.