Asperger's disorder, criminal responsibility and criminal culpability

Psychiatry, Psychology and Law

Volumn 16, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 16-40

  Ian Freckelton, S C ^a   List, David ^b  

^a MONASH UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

^b Clinical Psychologist Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal   (Australia)

Author keywords

Asperger's disorder; Autism spectrum; Capacity to form intention; Diminished responsibility; Fitness for interview; Fitness to stand trial; Insanity; Mental illness; Mental impairment; Self defence; Sentencing

Indexed keywords

EID: 70449331577     PISSN: 13218719     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/13218710902887483     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. Although "Asperger's syndrome" is best known as such, it is classified as a "disorder" within the DSM. Accordingly, it is referred to in this way in this article. Just as it is inappropriate to designate people as their disorder (eg "schizophrenics", "depressives", etc), the approach adopted herein is to refrain from use of the terms "Aspergians" and "Aspies" which are employed by some, including by some of those with the disorder.
2. See M Fitzgerald, "Autism: Asperger's Syndrome-History and Fits Descriptions' in L Rausch, JL Rausch, JE Johnson and MF Casanova MF (eds), Asperger's Disorder (Informa Health Care, New York 2008); "History of Asperger Syndrome' 5http://www.asperger-syndrome.me.uk/4accessed 5March 2009; N De Spiegeleer and J Appelboom, 'Le Syndrome de l'Asperger Existe-t-il?' (June 2007) 55 Neuropsychiatrie de l'enfance et de l'adolescence 137. Importantly, in the DSM, Asperger's disorder is placed on the Axis I, rather than the Axis II, disorders.
3. This term was first employed in M DeMyer, J Hingtgen and R Jackson, 'Infantile Autism Reviewed: A Decade of Research' (1981) 7 Schizophrenic Bulletin 388. See T Attwood, 'Is There aDifference Between Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning Autism?' 5 http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/articles/pdfs/attwood1.pdf 4 accessed 31 December 2008.
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5. H Asperger, "Autistic Psychopathy in Childhood' in U Frith (ed), Autism and Asperger's Syndrome (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1991). Just before, Kanner described a significantly similar syndrome: L Kanner, 'Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact' (1943) 2 Nervous Child 217.
6. See too T Attwood, Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Jessica Kingsley, London 1998).
7. See though for the argument that Asperger's subjects suffered from autism, JN Miller and S Ozonoff, 'Did Asperger's Cases Have Asperger's Disorder?' (1997) 38 Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 247.
8. See also K Chawarska, A Klin and FR Volkmer, Autism Spectrum Disorders in Infants and Toddlers (Guilford Press, 36 I. Freckelton SC and D. List New York 2006); MJ Carly, Asperger's from the Inside Out (Perigee, New York 2008); B O'Reilly and S Smith, Australian Autism Handbook (Jane Curry Publishing, Sydney 2008) NJ Patrick, Social Skills for Teenagers and Adults with Asperger Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley, New York 2008).
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11. S Dodd, Understanding Autism (Elsevier, Sydney 2005) 131-32; see also JL Klin et al, JE Johnson and MF Casanova, Asperger's Disorder (Informa Health Care, New York 2008).
12. See eg K Sofronoff and T Attwood, "A Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Intervention for Anxiety in Children with Asperger's Syndrome' (2003) 4 Good Autism Practice 228.
13. See eg the evidence in R v Kagan (2004) 185 CCC (3d) 417 at [10].
14. See eg Adams &Simpson [2008] FMCAfam 1327.
15. Especially if Asperger's is accompanied by depression: see CA, Re [2006] QGAAT 2.
16. See T Attwood, The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London 2007) at 207.
17. Benoit-Otis V The Queen [2004] 2 CTC 2977; (2003) 57 DTC 3998 at 31-32.
18. See JR Brasic, 'Pervasive Developmental Disorder:Asperger's Syndrome' (11March 2008) 5 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/912296-overview 4 accessed 31 December 2008.
19. See Klin et al, (n 11); F Volkmar, A Klin and D Pauls, "Nosological and Genetic Aspects of Asperger Syndrome' (1998) 28 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 457.
20. See Buchanan & Gardiner [2009] FamCA 47.
21. Viewed in terms of the notion of "emotional intelligence", ie in a broader context of functioning, those with Asperger's syndrome have a significant deficit. 22. Dodd (n 11) 142; see too M Fleisher, Making Sense of the Unfeasible: My Life Journey with Asperger Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London 2003). For a more positive account of the potential for relationships, G Slater-Walker and C Slater-Walker, An Asperger Marriage (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London 2002).
22. Dodd (n 11) 146. The question has arisen in the popular domain by the portrayal of Dr Mary McDonnell, a surgeon with Asperger's on Grey's Anatomy: see http://www.greysanatomyinsider.com/2008/11/mary-mcdonnell-speaks-ongreys-anatomy-role/ accessed 25 March 2009. See too the eloquent personal account of JE Robison, Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's (Bantam, Sydney 2007).
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25. N Hawkes, 'Why a Dash of Autism May Be Key to Success' (2001) 5 http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/Dash_Of_Autism.htm 4 accessed 26 December 2008.
26. L Wing, "Asperger's Syndrome: A Clinical Account' (1981) 11 Psychological Medicine 115.
27. D Mawson, A Grounds and D Tantam, "Violence and Asperger's Syndrome: A Case Study' (1985) 147 British Journal of Psychiatry 566; see also M Ghaziuddin, L Tsai and N Ghaziuddin, 'Brief Report: Violence and Asperger's Syndrome, a Critique' (1991) 21 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 349.
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29. See too I Everall and A Lecouteur, "Fire Setting in an Adolescent Boy with sperger's Syndrome' (1990) 152 British Journal of Psychiatry 284.
30. J Barry-Walsh and P Mullen P, "Forensic Aspects of Asperger's Syndrome' (2004) 15(1) Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology 96.
31. See M Ghaziuddin, L Tsai and N Ghaziuddin, "Brief Report: Violence and Asperger's Syndrome, a Critique' (1991) 21 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 349; A Gillot, F Furniss and A Walter, 'Anxiety in High-functioning Children with Autism' (2001) 5 Autism 277; HS Duggal, 'Bipolar Disorder with Asperger's Disorder' (2003) 160 American Journal of Psychiatry 184.
32. See, however, D Murrie, J Warren, M Kristiansson and P Dietz, "Asperger's Syndrome in Forensic Settings' (2002) 1 International Journal of Forensic Mental Health 59; BG Haskins and JA Silva, 'Asperger's Disorder and Criminal Behavior: Forensic Psychiatric Considerations' (2006) 34 Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law 374 5http://www.jaapl.org/cgi/reprint/34/3/374.pdf 4 accessed 6 December 2008; JA Silva, MM Ferrari and GB Leong, 'Asperger's Disorder and the Origins of the Unabomber' (2003) 24 American Journal of Forensic Psychiatry 5; J Barry-Walsh and P Mullen (n 31).
33. T Attwood, The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London 2007) 109.
34. R v Mueller [2005] NSWCCA 47 at [92]. See too McC v Regina [2007] NSWCCA 25.
35. See PE Mullen, 'Forensic Report' 5 http://kildall.apana.org.au/autism/articles/bryant.html 4 accessed 6 December 2008. For Bryant's sentencing, see 5 http://www.geniac.net/portarthur/sentence.htm 4 accessed 31 December 2008.
36. For a useful summary of the critiques, see Attwood (n 36) 42-44. In 03-004 [2002] VMHRB 7 the Victorian Mental Health Review Board found a person with Asperger's not to have a mental illness within the meaning of s 8 of the Mental Health Act 1986 (Vic).
37. A Gillberg, A Guide to Asperger Syndrome (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2002).
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39. M Garnett and T Attwood, 'The Australian Scale for Asperger's Syndrome' in T Attwod (ed), Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals Jessica Kingsley Publications, London 1998).
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43. J Williams, F Scott, C Stott, C Allison, P Bolton, S Baron-Cohen and C Brayne, 'The CAST (Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test): Test Accuracy' (2005) 9 Autism 45. See too Autism Research Centre, 'Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test' 5 http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/tests/cast_test.asp 4 accessed 31 December 2008.
44. J Gilliam, GADS Examiner's Manual (PRO-ED, Austin 2002).
45. D Krug and J Arick, Krug's Asperger's Disorder Index (PRO-ED, Austin 2002).
46. S Baron-Cohen, S Wheelwright, R Skinner, J Martin and E Clubley, "The Autism Spectrum Quotients (AQ): Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians' (2001) 31 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 5.
47. S Baron-Cohen and S Wheelwright, "The Empathy Quotient: An Investigation of Adults with Asperger Syndrome' (2004) 34 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 163.
48. S Baron-Cohen, S Wheelwright, J Hill, Y Raste and I Plumb, "The 'Reading the Mind in the Eyes' Test, Revised Version: A Study with Normal Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism' (2001) 42 Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 241.
49. MD Rutherford, S Baron-Cohen and S Wheelwright, "Reading the Mind in the Voice: A Study of Normal Adults and Adults with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism' (2002) 32 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 189.
50. S Baron-Cohen and S Wheelwright, "The Friendship Questionnaire: Investigation of Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism, and Normal Sex Differences' (2003) 43 Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 509.
51. L Nylander and C Gillberg, "Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adult Psychiatric Out-patients' (2001) 103 Acta Psychiatria Scandinavica 428.
52. SLS Tests, 'The Self Test for Asperger Disorder' http://www.slshealth.com/residential/behavioral_info/selftest.asp?CatID1/4584 accessed 31 December 2008.
53. J Campbell, "Diagnostic Assessment of Asperger's Disorder: A Review of Five Third-Party Rating Scales' (2005) 35 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 25.
54. See also D Murray, Coming Out Asperger: Diagnosis, Disclosure and Self-Confidence (Jessica Kingsley Publishers London, 2006).
55. See A North, A Russell and S Gudjonsson, "An Investigation of Potential Vulnerability During Police Interrogation of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Focus on Interrogative Suggestibility and Compliance', paper presented at the 1st International Symposium on Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Forensic Context, Copenhagen, Demark, September 2005.
56. See I Freckelton and H Selby, Expert Evidence: Law, Practice, Procedure and Advocacy (Thomson, Sydney 2009).