Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T08:04:51.005Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 1 - Introduction

from Section 1 - An Overview: Definitions, Epidemiology and Policy Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2023

By
Jane M. McCarthy ,
Regi T. Alexander  and
Eddie Chaplin
Edited by
Jane M. McCarthy ,
Regi T. Alexander  and
Eddie Chaplin
Jane M. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and University of Auckland
Regi T. Alexander
Affiliation:
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and University of Hertfordshire
Eddie Chaplin
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University
Get access

Summary

The chapter provides an introduction to neurodevelopmental disorders and summarises recent advances in published research, focusing on the very early development and function of the human brain. The main influences on the current delivery and development of forensic healthcare services is set within the context of available policy and guidance, which is limited in part by the available research evidence to inform it. The book is divided into three sections. The first provides an overview with an introduction to individual disorders and covers aetiology, prevalence, comorbid mental disorder and relevant policy to date. The second section focuses on the clinical aspects of the range of disorders including screening, assessment, diagnosis, risk assessments and therapeutic approaches. The final section examines the pathways through the criminal justice system from police to court to disposal and addresses the specific aspect of fitness to plead or stand trial for those with neurodevelopmental disorders. This section also describes current relevant legislation within the UK as well as forensic services for those with such disorders from a national and international perspective.

Keywords

neurodevelopmental disordersresearch themesforensicpolicyservicesIntellectual disabilityautism spectrum disordersattention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
Type
Chapter
Information
Forensic Aspects of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A Clinician's Guide
 , pp. 1 - 12
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition: DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association, 2013.Google Scholar
Du Rietz, E, Pettersson, E, Brikell, I, Ghirardi, L, Chen, Q, Hartman, C, et al. Overlap between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and neurodevelopmental, externalising and internalising disorders: separating unique from general psychopathology effects. British Journal of Psychiatry 2021; 218(1): 35–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murray, J, Farrington, DP. Risk factors for conduct disorder and delinquency: key findings from longitudinal studies. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 55(10): 633–42.Google Scholar
Lim, L, Chantiluke, K, Cubillo, A, Smith, A, Simmons, A, Mehta, M, et al. Disorder-specific grey matter deficits in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder relative to autism spectrum disorder. Psychological Medicine 2015; 45(5): 965–76.Google Scholar
Horder, J, Petrinovic, MM, Mendez, MA, Bruns, A, Takumi, T, Spooren, W, et al. Glutamate and GABA in autism spectrum disorder: a translational magnetic resonance spectroscopy study in man and rodent models. Translational Psychiatry 2018; 8(1) :1–11.Google Scholar
Kooij, JJS, Bijlenga, D, Salerno, L, Jaeschke, R, Bitter, I, Balazs, J, et al. Updated European Consensus Statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD. European Psychiatry 2019 ;56: 14–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shi, Y, Wang, M, Mi, D, Lu, T, Wang, B, Dong, H, et al. Mouse and human share conserved transcriptional programs for interneuron development. Science 2021; 374(6573): eabj6641.Google Scholar
Marotta, R, Risoleo, MC, Messina G et al., (2020). The Neurochemistry of Autism. Brain Sciences, 10, 163.Google Scholar
Parenti, I, Rabaneda, LG, Schoen, H, Novarino, G. Neurodevelopmental disorders: from genetics to functional pathways. Trends in Neurosciences 2020; 43(8): 608–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lord, C, Charman, T, Havdahl, A, Carbone, P, Anagnostou, E, Boyd, B, et al. The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism. Lancet 2022; 399(10321): 271–334.Google Scholar
Autistica. A review of the research funding landscape in the United Kingdom. 2018. Available at: https://issuu.com/fitcreative.ltd.uk/docs/autistica-autism_research_funding_l/1.Google Scholar
Langdon, PE, Alexander, R, O’Hara, J. Highlights of this issue. British Journal of Psychiatry 2021; 218(1): A3.Google Scholar
Alexander, RT, Langdon, PE, O’Hara, J, Howell, A, Lane, T, Tharian, R, et al. Psychiatry and neurodevelopmental disorders: experts by experience, clinical care and research. British Journal of Psychiatry 2021; 218(1): 1–3.Google Scholar
O’Grady, SM, Hinshaw, SP. Long-term outcomes of females with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: increased risk for self-harm. British Journal of Psychiatry 2021; 218(1): 4–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, D, Glaser, K, Hayward, H, Eklund, H, Cadman, T, Findon, J, et al. Crossing the divide: a longitudinal study of effective treatments for people with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder across the lifespan. Programme Grants Appl Res 2018; 6(2).Google Scholar
Ryland, H, Davies, L, Kenny-Herbert, J, Kingham, M & Deshpande, M. (2021). Advancing research in Forensic Mental Health Services in England. Medicine, Science & the Law, 1–5.Google Scholar
McCarthy, J, Chaplin, E, Hayes, S, Søndenaa, E, Chester, V, Morrissey, C, et al. Defendants with intellectual disability and autism spectrum conditions: the perspective of clinicians working across three jurisdictions. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law 2021; 29(5): 698–717.Google Scholar
Brooker, C, Coid, J. Mental health services are failing the criminal justice system. BMJ 2022: 376.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Criminal Justice Inspectorates. Neurodiversity in the criminal justice system. Available at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk.Google Scholar
HM Government. National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026, policy paper. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026.Google Scholar
NHS England. Meeting the healthcare needs of adults with a learning disability and autistic adults in prison. Available at: www.england.nhs.uk/publication/meeting-the-healthcare-needs-of-adults-with-a-learning-disability-and-autistic-adults-in-prison/.Google Scholar
Sentencing Council. Sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments. 2020. Available at: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/overarching-guides/magistrates-court/item/sentencing-offenders-with-mental-disorders-developmental-disorders-or-neurological-impairments/.Google Scholar
Taylor, PJ, Eastman, N, Latham, R, Holloway, J. Sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders or neurological impairments: what does the new Sentencing Council Guideline mean for psychiatrists? British Journal of Psychiatry 2021; 218(6): 299–301.Google Scholar
R v. M’Naghten [1843] 8 ER 718; [1843] 10 Cl & F 200.Google Scholar
Baroff, GS, Gunn, M, Hayes, S. Legal issues. In Lindsay, WR, Taylor, JL, Sturmey, P, eds.,Offenders with Developmental Disabilities. Wiley, 2004: 37–66.Google Scholar
Hallett, N. Psychiatric evidence in diminished responsibility. Journal of Criminal Law 2018; 82(6): 442–56.Google Scholar
O’Sullivan, OP. Autism spectrum disorder and criminal responsibility: historical perspectives, clinical challenges and broader considerations within the criminal justice system. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine 2017; 35(4): 333–9.Google Scholar
Hallett, N. To what extent should expert psychiatric witnesses comment on criminal culpability? Medicine, Science and the Law 2020; 60(1): 67–74.Google Scholar
Moore, MS. Prima facie moral culpability. Boston University Law Review 1996; 76: 319.Google Scholar
McChesney, D, Doucet, M. Culpable ignorance and mental disorders. Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy 2018; 14: 227.Google Scholar
Allely, CS. Autism spectrum disorders in the criminal justice system: police interviewing, the courtroom and the prison environment. In Recent Advances in Autism. SM Group Open Access eBooks, 2016: 1–13.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×