Research Article
A neuropsychiatric developmental model of serial homicidal behavior†
J. Arturo Silva M.D.,
Gregory B. Leong M.D.,
Michelle M. Ferrari M.D.,
Corresponding Author
J. Arturo Silva M.D.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this authorGregory B. Leong M.D.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington and Center for Forensic Services, Western State Hospital, Tacoma, WA, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorMichelle M. Ferrari M.D.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Santa Clara, CA, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this author
J. Arturo Silva M.D.,
Gregory B. Leong M.D.,
Michelle M. Ferrari M.D.,
Corresponding Author
J. Arturo Silva M.D.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this authorGregory B. Leong M.D.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington and Center for Forensic Services, Western State Hospital, Tacoma, WA, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorMichelle M. Ferrari M.D.
P.O. Box 20928, San Jose, CA 95160, U.S.A.
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Santa Clara, CA, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this author
†
The views of this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the University of Washington, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Kaiser Pemanente Medical Group or Stanford University.
Abstract
Serial sexual homicide has been the object of intensive study from forensic psychiatric, criminological, developmental, and sociological perspectives. In contradistinction to these approaches, neuropsychiatric concepts and methods have received relatively little attention in this area. In this article we adopt a neuropsychiatric developmental perspective and undertake a review of the psychiatric literature on violence and autism spectrum disorders. Our analysis of this literature suggests the presence of an association between autism spectrum psychopathology and serial homicidal behavior. Recommendations for further research to help clarify the nature of this association are briefly discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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