Authors: Anckarsater, Henrik¹; Nilsson, Thomas²; Saury, Jean-Michel³; Råstam, Maria⁴; Gillberg, Christopher⁵

Source: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 62, Number 2, 2008 , pp. 160-167(8)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

Abstract:

What do we know about the prevalence and the specific features of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) among subjects in forensic psychiatry and special youth centres? A clinical case series consisting of 42 subjects with ASD, recruited from three well-characterized populations in forensic psychiatry and special youth care, was used to determine: 1) the prevalence of ASD in these institutions (at least 13%), 2) the distribution of diagnostic criteria in this special population (mostly social interaction and communication problems, few or atypical flexibility problems), 3) the degree of comorbidity (the rule rather than the exception), 4) neuropsychological test profiles (lowered IQ with uneven profiles), 5) types of crimes and offences (very heterogeneous, often stress-related with dissociated features), 6) mental health care needs (high), and 7) special clinical features (especially expressions of flexibility deficits in non-classical areas and proneness to dissociation). This descriptive study indicates that ASD is a clinically relevant problem among forensic populations that has to be considered in diagnostics, assessments of needs and treatment planning.

Keywords: Asperger's syndrome; Autism spectrum disorders; Diagnostic criteria; Forensic psychiatry; Mental health needs

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08039480801957269

Affiliations: 1: The Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Malmo University HospitalUniversity of Lund, Malmo, Sweden 2: The Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Malmo University Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden 3: The National Board of Institutional Care, Sweden 4: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Goteborg University, Sweden 5: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Goteborg University, Sweden,Yourkhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK

Publication date: 2008-01-01

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