Asperger syndrome and criminal behaviour†

Autism-spectrum disorders are a group of biologically based behavioural syndromes of childhood onset that are characterised by qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication, together with a restricted and repetitive range of behaviours, interests and activities – the so-called ‘triad of impairments’ (Wing 1981). Among individuals with ‘high-functioning autism’, the term ‘Asperger syndrome’ is reserved for people for whom the social interaction and restricted patterns of behaviour occur in the context of normal early language and cog nitive development. Although people with Asperger syndrome do not have the communication impairments typical of autistic disorder, a number of specific pragmatic abnormalities are recognised (for further discussion see Klin 2005). The syndrome itself was first described by the Viennese paediatrician Hans Asperger in 1944. Diagnostic features of the syndrome, however, were not operationalised until ICD–10 (World Health Organization 1992) and DSM–IV (American Psychiatric Association 1994). The scientific literature concerned with autismspectrum disorders has increased enormously over the past two decades, although much of it has been concerned with the basic sciences rather than everyday clinical issues (summarised in Klin 2005). More specifically, very little has focused on people with autism who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Offending and antisocial behaviour in the context of Asperger syndrome have been described in a number of case reports and case series (WoodburySmith 2005; Mouridsen 2008). Asperger himself, in his original paper, described antisocial behaviour in addition to the core clinical impairments (Frith 1991). Wing (1981: p. 116) similarly made reference to a small minority with a history of ‘bizarre antisocial acts’ in her case series of 34 children and adults with Asperger syndrome.