Table 2 Studies of prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in suspected and delinquent populations

Scragg and Shah [43]

ASD prevalence: 2.3% in 392 patients held in Broadmoor secure hospital

Secure hospital

Asperger’s syndrome Gillberg and Gillberg criteria

Examination, Screening Schedule for Autistic Behavior and interview

Not reported

None

Prevalence of Asperger’s syndrome in Broadmoor Hospital higher than reported for general population

Anckarsäter et al. [35]

ASD prevalence = 13% in 3 Swedish cohorts (n = 100, n = 100, n = 130)

Special hospital for forensic psychiatry, violent or sexual offenders who were undergoing pre-trial investigation at department of forensic psychiatry and institutions of maladapted youths

Autism, Asperger’s syndrome and atypical autism Gillberg and Gillberg criteria and DSM-IV

Clinical examinations, SCID-I, ASDI, ASSQ

Group 1: M = 27; group 2: M = 25.5; group 3: M = 15

None

ASD a clinically relevant problem among forensic populations

Enayati et al. [45]

Prevalence of Asperger’s syndrome: 7.1% in 214 arsonists; 2.5% in 2395 other violent offenders

Convicted offenders

Asperger’s syndrome DSM-IV

None; Forensic psychiatric investigations

M = 34.4

2395 other violent offenders

Male arsonists compared with other violent offenders more often diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome

Geluk et al. [44]

Incidence rate ratio 1.29; (total symptom score) in 308 first-time child arrestees

Childhood arrestees by the police

Autistic symptoms conform DSM-IV-TR

Children’s Social Behavior Questionnaire

M = 10.7

840 matched controls

Autistic symptoms predict future delinquent behavior in childhood arrestees

‘t Hart-Kerkhoff et al. [18]

Higher level of ASD symptoms in 175 suspected juvenile sex offenders compared with matched controls

Juvenile suspected sex offenders

ASD symptoms conform DSM-IV-TR

Children’s Social Behavior Questionnaire

Offenders: M = 14.9; ASD: M = 14.2

500 matched healthy controls, M age 14.0 years

Level of ASD symptoms higher in juvenile sex offenders, especially solo offenders and child molesters, than in group offenders

Kumagami and Matsuura [46]

In 428 family court juvenile cases a pervasive developmental disorder prevalence of 3.2–18.2%

Family court juvenile cases

Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) DSM-IV

Diagnosing and subtyping of PDD and type of crime by interview and school and court records

M = 17

None

In PDD group significantly higher rate of sex-related crimes than in other juveniles referred to family courts

Siponmaa et al. [7]

ASD prevalence: 15% in young offenders referred for forensic psychiatric investigation

Pervasive developmental disorder and Asperger’s syndrome ICD-10, DSM-IV, Gillberg and Gillberg criteria

Semi-structured psychiatric interview and psychiatric state examination

Range 15–22

None

High prevalence of ASD in young offenders referred for forensic psychiatric investigation