Antisocial personality by proxy: the Norton-Sims syndrome.

An antisocial personality disorder by proxy is defined by a proposed set of diagnostic criteria and a general description of proxy and perpetrator characteristics. Subtypes, dynamics, and features of this proposed disorder are described, and five-factor personality model (Costa & Widiger, 1994) loadings for the proxy and perpetrator are hypothesized. The relationship to abuse trauma and the five-factor personality model are discussed along with implications and suggestions for future research.