Violence and sexual offending behavior in people with autism spectrum disorder who have undergone a psychiatric forensic examination

Psychol Rep. 2014 Aug;115(1):32-43. doi: 10.2466/16.15.PR0.115c16z5. Epub 2014 Jul 29.

Abstract

The increased awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) over the last few decades as well as the potential association between ASD and offending behaviors has spurred a need for increased research in this area. In order to explore any possible relationship between ASD and violent or sexual crime the present study examines all forensic examination reports over a 10-yr. period in Norway where the charged persons were diagnosed with ASD and charged with either a violent (N = 21) or a sexual (N = 12) offense. Differences between these two groups regarding previous contact with child welfare and confessions to the offense were found. There was also a tendency toward more severe mental health problems and less intellectual problems among the violent offenders than the sexual offenders.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / epidemiology*
  • Criminals* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Sex Offenses* / statistics & numerical data
  • Violence* / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult