The dark side of Aspergers: serial killers, sociopathy

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Are you saying that AS was 'formerly known as' schizotypal personality disorder? I just want a clarification, as I was diagnosed schizotypal (along with a bunch of other stuff) back in '85, with the AS diagnosis coming a decade and a half later. If it's essentially the same thing, I wonder if it was a revised diagnosis or just an update in terminology.

It is a bit complex. The DSM-III had a category called "schizoid disorder of childhood" (not schizotypal). In the DSM-IV, the same version which first incorporated "Asperger's Disorder," it was eliminated.

The ISD-10 (World Health Organization) now refers to schizoid disorder of childhood as an alternate term for "Asperger's Syndrome" :

http://www.who.int/classifications/apps ... 0.htm+f845

Here is the description of schizoid disorder of childhood or adolescence in the DSM-III:

313.22 Schizoid Disorder of Childhood or Adolescence
The essential feature is a defect in the capacity to form social relationships that is not due to any other mental disorder, such as Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Conduct Disorder, Undersocialized, Nonaggressive; or any psychotic disorder, such as Schizophrenia.
Children with this disorder have no close friend of similar age other than a relative or a similarly socially isolated child. They do not appear distressed by their isolation, show little desire for social involvement, and prefer to be "loners," although they may be attached to a parent or other adult. When placed in social situations, they are uncomfortable, inept, and awkward. They have no interest in activities that involve other children, such as team sports and clubs. They often appear aloof, reserved, withdrawn, and seclusive. Associated features. These children may be belligerent and irritable, especially when demands for social performance are made. They are erratically sensitive to criticism, displaying occasional outbursts of aggressive behavior. They are frequently scapegoated by their peers....
Diagnostic criteria for Schizoid Disorder of Childhood or Adolescence
A. No close friend of similar age other than a relative or a similarly socially isolated child.
B. No apparent interest in making friends.
C. No pleasure from usual peer interactions.
D. General avoidance of nonfamilial social contacts, especially with peers.
E. No interest in activities that involve other children {such as team sports, clubs).
F. Duration of the disturbance of at least three months.
G. Not due to Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Conduct Disorder, Undersocialized, Nonaggressive; or any psychotic disorder, such as Schizophrenia,
H. If 18 or older, does not meet the criteria for Schizoid Personality Disorder.

http://www.psychiatryonline.com/DSMPDF/dsm-iii.pdf

mabye it would be better if we just arrested anyone who owns 'Catcher in the Rye'...

I don't get it.

It's Carpaccio Soup!

I tried the codependency test and found out I was 79% stable, 20% dependent, and 29% enabling (I admit I do have a soft spot for helping people). I found the test made too many assumptions (like I've been in a relationship before and that I'd be bothered about certain things that I really see as none of my business). On the plus side, I can see this as a good justification for turning off the work pager, saying leaving it on would be enabling.

Paranoid |||||||||| 34%
Schizoid |||||||||||||||||||| 82%
Schizotypal |||||||||||||||||| 74%
Antisocial |||||| 30%
Borderline |||||||||||| 50%
Histrionic |||||| 30%
Narcissistic |||||||||||| 42%
Avoidant |||| 14%
Dependent |||||||||||| 46%
Obsessive-Compulsive |||||||||| 38%

You are not alone. My contention is that codependency/codependence is more often used as a type of social criticism than as a specific psychological condition. The APA has consistenly refused to include it in the DSM.

It's just a pop psychology term some people invented for a specific relationship dynamic that might or might not even exist the way it's described in the first place. And then, beyond that, it became overused in all sorts of situations that the idea wasn't even designed for.

And most of the people I've met (autistic or not) who describe themselves as "recovering codependents", seem rather to be in the process of making themselves extremely selfish (not just some balance), but calling it "recovery" or "taking care of me" when they manage to totally disregard or even harm other people. (And I don't mean harming by 'enabling', I just mean being generally unpleasant people who are only out for themselves and have found an excuse to make that sound like personal growth.)

The term codependence originated when the wife of Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, developed the concept of a co-alcoholic, which eventually gave rise to Alanon and ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics). The idea was that the spouse of the alcoholic, usually assumed to be a woman at the time, enabled the alcoholic by constantly forgiving bad behavior. It later expanded to include people in any dysfunctional relationship, as seen in the group CoDA (Codependents Anonymous). However, most authors treat codependence as social criticism, as when John Bradford has said that the vast majority of Americans are codependent.

Surely the human social animal is predicated on co-dependence?

More like interdependence.

Co-dependence has some weird meaning other than what it sounds like.

As a sociologist, I have studied the codependence movement. It is a very American movement. It has turned the concepts of freedom and libertarianism into issues of psychological health and well-being.

I saw Hitler on the Wikipedia list of people speculated to have had Asperger's.

Hilter was known to be very charismatic and good with people. If he was speculated to have had Asperger's, that specualtion is far off, IMO.