Asperger's Syndrome in Forensic Settings

Abstract

Researchers and clinicians have devoted increasing attention to Asperger's syndrome during the past two decades. Although Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder, professionals in a variety of settings have begun to consider the diagnosis among adults who manifest social and communication abnormalities. Case studies (e.g., Baron-Cohen, 1988; Kohn et al., 1998) and prevalence research (Scragg & Shah, 1994) from forensic settings indicate that a small subset of Asperger's syndrome patients come into contact with the legal system due to their social impairments and idiosyncratic interests. We provide case histories of individuals with Asperger's syndrome encountered in forensic contexts and discuss the implications of this disorder for forensic clinicians. Our six cases were notable for certain commonalties, including deficient empathy. The cases also revealed ways in which Asperger's patients tend to differ from most individuals in forensic settings.