Asperger’s Disorder and Murder

Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at 
 least two of the following:

1. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors 
 such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and 
 gestures, to regulate social interaction;

2. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to 
 developmental level;

3. A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or 
 achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing, 
 bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people);

4. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, 
 interests, and activities, as manifested by one of the following:

1. Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped 
 and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal, whether in 
 intensity or focus;

2. Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional 
 routines or rituals;

3. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or 
 finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body 
 movements);

4. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in 
 social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., 
 single words used by age 2 years or communicative phrases 
 used by age 3 years).

There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development 
 or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive 
 behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the 
 environment in childhood.

Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental 
 Disorder or Schizophrenia.