OBJECTIVE: To investigate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in juvenile suspects of sex offenses. METHOD: A group of 175 juvenile suspected sex offenders (all males, mean +/- SD age = 14.9 +/- 1.4 years) was compared with a matched healthy control group (N = 500, mean +/- SD age = 14.0 +/- 1.4 years) and a group of children with DSM-IV-diagnosed ASD (N = 114, mean +/- SD age = 14.2 +/- 1.9 years) with respect to autistic symptoms as measured by means of a standardized questionnaire, the Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire. Furthermore, specific subgroups of sexual offenders, i.e., child molesters, solo peer offenders, and group offenders, were compared with regard to levels of ASD symptoms. The study was conducted from May 2003 to December 2006. RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of ASD symptoms were found in juvenile sex offenders than in healthy controls, while levels were lower than in the ASD group (F = 148.259, p < .05). Solo peer offenders and child molesters scored higher on several subscales as well as on core autistic symptoms than group offenders (F = 5.127, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of ASD symptoms are higher in juvenile suspects of sex offenses as compared to the healthy population, which argues for considering specific diagnostic assessment in this population, especially in solo offenders and child molesters. Copyright 2009 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in juvenile suspects of sex offenses. METHOD: A group of 175 juvenile suspected sex offenders (all males, mean +/- SD age = 14.9 +/- 1.4 years) was compared with a matched healthy control group (N = 500, mean +/- SD age = 14.0 +/- 1.4 years) and a group of children with DSM-IV-diagnosed ASD (N = 114, mean +/- SD age = 14.2 +/- 1.9 years) with respect to autistic symptoms as measured by means of a standardized questionnaire, the Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire. Furthermore, specific subgroups of sexual offenders, i.e., child molesters, solo peer offenders, and group offenders, were compared with regard to levels of ASD symptoms. The study was conducted from May 2003 to December 2006. RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of ASD symptoms were found in juvenile sex offenders than in healthy controls, while levels were lower than in the ASD group (F = 148.259, p < .05). Solo peer offenders and child molesters scored higher on several subscales as well as on core autistic symptoms than group offenders (F = 5.127, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of ASD symptoms are higher in juvenile suspects of sex offenses as compared to the healthy population, which argues for considering specific diagnostic assessment in this population, especially in solo offenders and child molesters. Copyright 2009 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
Authors: Linda P Dekker; Esther J M van der Vegt; Kirsten Visser; Nouchka Tick; Frieda Boudesteijn; Frank C Verhulst; Athanasios Maras; Kirstin Greaves-Lord Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2015-06
Authors: Kirstin Greaves-Lord; Mart L J M Eussen; Frank C Verhulst; Ruud B Minderaa; William Mandy; James J Hudziak; Mark Peter Steenhuis; Pieter F de Nijs; Catharina A Hartman Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2013-08
Authors: Merlijne Jaspers; Andrea F de Winter; Jan K Buitelaar; Frank C Verhulst; Sijmen A Reijneveld; Catharina A Hartman Journal: J Abnorm Child Psychol Date: 2013-01
Authors: Lisette A 't Hart-Kerkhoffs; Cyril Boonmann; Theo Ah Doreleijers; Lucres Mc Jansen; Anton Ph van Wijk; Robert Rjm Vermeiren Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2015-02-25 Impact factor: 3.033
Authors: Cyril Boonmann; Thomas Grisso; Laura S Guy; Olivier F Colins; Eva A Mulder; P Vahl; Lucres M C Jansen; Theo A H Doreleijers; Robert R J M Vermeiren Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2016-11-01 Impact factor: 3.033
Authors: Laurence O'Dwyer; Colby Tanner; Eelco V van Dongen; Corina U Greven; Janita Bralten; Marcel P Zwiers; Barbara Franke; Jaap Oosterlaan; Dirk Heslenfeld; Pieter Hoekstra; Catharina A Hartman; Nanda Rommelse; Jan K Buitelaar Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-06-30 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: M Ewoud Baarsma; Cyril Boonmann; Lisette A 't Hart-Kerkhoffs; Hanneke de Graaf; Theo A H Doreleijers; Robert R J M Vermeiren; Lucres M C Jansen Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2016-08