Implications of neurobiological research for forensic psychiatry

There is an increasing number of brain imaging studies revealing structural and functional impairments in antisocial and violent individuals and sex offenders. This review outlines some neurobiological findings on offenders with antisocial personality disorder and sex offenders diagnosed with paedophilia. With regard to these studies the implications of neurobiological research for forensic psychiatry are discussed. The increasing knowledge of functional impairments provides a better understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of delinquent behaviour. Nevertheless, it has to be kept in mind that antisocial behaviour undoubtedly arises from a complex pattern of biological, psychological, social and situative factors. Optimal integration of neurobiological findings requires cooperation among many disciplines such as medicine, criminology, sociology, psychology, politics and neuroscience.