Hans Asperger and the confusion with psychopathy

The confusion between Asperger syndrome and psychopathy finds its origin in the original description of four autistic adolescents by Hans Asperger in 1944. This Austrian doctor had then mentioned in his writings a history of physical aggression as well as a fascination for blood and poison. A subsequent study covering 177 Austrians diagnosed according to these criteria has however revealed no criminal excess mortality compared to the general population.