AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS - LEGAL AND FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC ASPECTS AND REFLECTIONS

Object: The object of the article is to illustrate and discuss neuropsychiatric correlates in perpetrators with ASD in relation to judicial implications such as the cognitive and volitional aspects of criminal responsibility. Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Psychlnfo and Social Citation Index by combining the key words as stated below. All relevant articles written in English, dating from 1980 to present, were included. Results: Perpetrators with ASD commonly present with severe deficiencies in mind reading capacity and perspective taking that may have implications for imagination, cognition and understanding; a mental handicap that can be very difficult to explain to the court. Up to date however, research on how these deficiencies affect criminal responsibility is still very sparse. Conclusions: A more refined "mental model" on the neuropsychiatric orrelates of ASD is needed in order to facilitate the forensic psychiatric assessment, treatment and risk evaluation of perpetrators with ASD.