Asperger's Syndrome?
"Asperger's syndrome, he thought. Or something like that. A talent for seeing patterns and understanding abstract reasoning where other people perceive only white noise."
- Chapter 27, page 506
Symptoms of Asperger Syndrome (The following is from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM IV):
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
B. Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (for example, single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).
E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behaviour (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
- marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviours such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
- failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
- a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (for example, by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
- lack of social or emotional reciprocity
B. Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
- encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest, that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
- apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
- stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (for example, hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
- persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (for example, single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).
E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behaviour (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
Vote in this poll to voice your opinion on the diagnosis of Lisbeth.
For a more in-depth look buy the book The Psychology of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a collection of essays that examine the psyche of Lisbeth Salander.
Read more about the book here.
Read more about the book here.