Autism, intellectual disabilities and additional psychosis, and affiliation to groups with violent ideology: short communication
| Pages | 1-7 |
| Published date | 11 March 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-09-2018-0010 |
| Date | 11 March 2019 |
| Author | Ann Magritt Solheim Inderberg,Kristin Horndalsveen,Arne-Henrik Elvehaug,Yugbadal Mehmi,Ingvild Jørstad,Trine Lise Bakken |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Education,Special education/gifted education,Emotional/behavioural disorders |
Autism, intellectual disabilities and
additional psychosis, and affiliation to
groups with violent ideology:
short communication
Ann Magritt Solheim Inderberg, Kristin Horndalsveen, Arne-Henrik Elvehaug,
Yugbadal Mehmi, Ingvild Jørstad and Trine Lise Bakken
Abstract
Purpose –People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been associated with criminal acts and
affiliation with groups a nd organisations with viol ent ideology and practice. Th e purpose of this paper
is to present patients in mental health services with both ASD and psychosis, who are affiliated with
such groups.
Design/methodology/approach –Three vignettes are used as examples. Some of the information is
combined for the three participants for presentation. They were scored for mental health symptoms and
behaviour problems on admission and discharge from inpatient care.
Findings –The combination of ASD and psychosis aggravates the problems of both conditions, which may
elicit a collapse of both cognitive functioning and especially impulse control, and of the ability to judge whether
situations are dangerous or offensive or not.
Originality/value –The present paper may contribute to a better understanding of the combination of ASD,
psychosis and affiliation with groups and organisations as described, especially regarding the importance of
identifying psychosis.
Keywords Psychosis, Extremism, Autism spectrum disorders, Inpatient treatment,
Specialized mental health care, Violent ideology
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered to be a neurodevelopmental disorder. Core
symptoms include impaired communication and social interaction, and a restricted repertoire
of activities and interests (APA, 2013). Besides these core symptoms, ASD is closely
associated with impaired executive functions, central coherence and mentalising. Impaired
mentalising incl udes not seeing other people’s perspectives, and also introspection (Lind and
Williams, 2011). Experiencing intellectual disabilities (ID) in addition to ASD aggravates these
problems. The cor e symptoms of psyc hosis include delu sions, hallucina tions and severe ly
disorganised speech and behaviour. The most severe psychosis, schizophrenia, also
encompasses negative symptoms such as apathy, fatigue, lack of motivation and emotional
dysfunction (APA, 2013). When people with ASD (with or without ID), develop psychosis, their
impaired cognit ive, emotional and p ractical functi oning caused by ASD a nd/or ID will be
severely aggravated (Bakken, 2014; Bakken et al., 2007). They may show severe global
functional deterioration and disorganised speech and behaviour, and be unable to maintain
basic self-care tasks and social relationships (Bakken, 2014).
Received 26 September 2018
Revised 27 November 2018
Accepted 27 November 2018
Ann Magritt Solheim Inderberg,
Kristin Horndalsveen,
Arne-Henrik Elvehaug,
Yugbadal Mehmi and
Ingvild Jørstad are all based at
the Oslo University Hospital,
Oslo, Norway.
Trine Lise Bakken is Head of
Advisory Unit at the
Oslo University Hospital,
Oslo, Norway.
DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-09-2018-0010 VOL. 10 NO.1 2019, pp. 1-7, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824
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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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