Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T21:49:56.172Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Prevalence of Asperger's Syndrome in a Secure Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Peter Scragg*
Affiliation:
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London
Amitta Shah
Affiliation:
Purley, London
*
Peter Scragg, Department of Psychological Medicine, Mental Health Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NT

Abstract

Background

The hypothesis that Asperger's syndrome (AS) may go unrecognised in forensic populations was examined by ascertaining the prevalence in Broadmoor Special Hospital.

Method

The entire male patient population was screened by examination of case notes. Identified cases were subject to the next stage of the study, which involved observation and interviewing of patients, and a semi-structured interview of key staff.

Results

A prevalence of 1.5% (0.6% to 3.3%, 95% CI) was found. The addition of equivocal cases increased the prevalence to 2.3%.

Conclusion

The prevalence of AS in Broadmoor Hospital is greater than that reported for the general population.

British Journal of Psychiatry (1994), 165, 679–682

Type
Short papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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

Baron-Cohen, S. (1988) An assessment of violence in a young man with Asperger's syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 29, 351360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ehlers, S. & Gillberg, C. (1993) The epidemiology of Asperger syndrome. A total population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 13271350.Google Scholar
Everall, I. P. & Lecouteur, A. (1990) Firesetting in an adolescent boy with Asperger's syndrome. British Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 284287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ghaziuddin, M., Tsai, I. & Ghaziuddin, N. (1991) Violence in Asperger's syndrome: a critique. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder, 21, 349354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gillberg, C. & Gillberg, C. (1989) Asperger's syndrome – some epidemiological considerations. A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 631638.Google Scholar
Mawson, D., Grounds, A. & Tantam, D. (1985) Violence and Asperger's syndrome: a case study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 566569.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tantam, D. (1991) Asperger syndrome in adulthood. In Autism and Asperger Syndrome (ed. Frith, U.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Wing, L. (1991) The relationship between Asperger's syndrome and Kanner's autism. In Autism and Asperger Syndrome (ed. Frith, U.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Wing, L. & Gould, J. (1978) Systematic recording of behaviours and skills of retarded and psychotic children. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 8, 7997.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.