Asperger's Syndrome in Forensic Settings

Abstract

The Austrian physician Hans Asperger (1944; created the label autistic psychopathy to describe a group of his patients who demonstrated unique problems with communication and a tendency to maintain idiosyncratic interests. This condition was similar, though not identical, to autism, the more widely known disorder of early childhood introduced by Asperger's contemporary, Kanner (1943). Much later, Wing (1981) reintroduced Asperger's work to a broader audience and provided additional descriptions and case studies of her patients with Asperger's syndrome. Wing's work prompted further research on this condition (Klin, 1994).Wing (1981) and subsequent researchers have described the core clinical characteristics of Asperger's syndrome as: (a) minimal empathy; (b) naïve, inappropriate, one-sided social interaction and limited capacity to form friendships; (c) pedantic and repetitious speech; (d) poor nonverbal communication; (e) intense preoccupation with circumscribed topics; and (f) clumsy movements, poor coordination, and odd posture. The recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) has distilled these clinical features into two main criteria: severe and

A Systematic Review of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Criminal Justice System

“…At times, these behaviours put people at risk of entering the Criminal Justice System (CJS), especially if they are relatively able individuals (most jurisdictions do not allow people with very low abilities to enter the CJS, on the grounds that they are likely to lack mens rea, may be unfit to plead and may not know right from wrong). In the research literature, a series of case studies of people with ASD (describing between one and six individuals in each case) have appeared that describe the kinds of crimes and circumstances that may arise for people with ASD in the CJS (Baron-Cohen, 1988;Barry-Walsh & Mullen, 2004;Chen, Chen, Yang, Yeh, Chen & Lo, 2003;Cooper, Mohamed & Collacott, 1993;Everall & Le Couteur, 1990;Fujikawa, Umeshita & Mutura, 2002;Haskins & Silva, 2006;Mawson, Grounds & Tantum, 1985;Murrie, Warren & Kristiansson 2002;Radley & Shaherbano, 2011;Schwartz-Watts, 2005;Toichi, 2002). There are also some well known cases of individuals with ASD who engaged in offending behaviours that have drawn widespread media attention (such as the case of Gary McKinnon in the UK who hacked into US government computers looking for evidence of UFOs, apparently causing over $800,000 worth of damage; and see also Kumagami & Matsuura, 2009 for three examples from Japan).…”

How does psychopathy relate to humor and laughter? Dispositions toward ridicule and being laughed at, the sense of humor, and psychopathic personality traits

“…In a different meaning from the current usage of the term, the Austrian physician Hans Asperger (1944) coined the patients later to be diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome with autistic psychopathy. They do not seem to share a lot of diagnostic criteria with psychopaths; and as Murrie, Warren, Kristiansson, and Dietz (2002) note they spend "more time at the opposite end of the predator-prey spectrum from the psychopath" (p. 67). They further argue that they are not well equipped for manipulating or exploiting others.…”

Sexual offending and autism spectrum disorders

“…Again, as was observed in the case of CD, GH had a naïve, primitive manner of speaking even when disclosing the most disturbing of behaviours. GH also confided to having fantasies about removing body parts from humans in order to see if this could increase his understanding of women and sexuality (Murrie et al, 2002). The third case involving a sexual offence was the case of IJ, a 22-year-old male, referred for treatment following suspension from a Scandinavian university for sexually assaultive behaviour and given probation.…”

“…Some studies have also reported cases of individuals with ASD who have become sexually violent (Fujikawa, Umeshita, & Mutura, 2002;Kohn, Fahum, Ratzoni, & Apter, 1998;Murrie, Warren, Kristiansson, & Dietz, 2002). However, while some studies indicate that individuals with ASDs are no more likely to commit violent crime compared to the general population, there are some studies which have suggested that it is important to recognise that in individuals with ASD impairments in the social domain coupled with a desire for attachment or sexual relations may subsequently lead to sexual offending behaviour (Murrie & Warren, 2002). Increased understanding of these ASD impairments are important for informing appropriate treatments.…”