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individuals and is considered virtually normative. A third, low-level chronic trajectory ofoffending was more recently identified (Moffitt, 2002). Its antecedents and correlates haveremained understudied, yet preliminary findings suggest that this group may also becharacterized by neuropsychological impairments (Raine et al., 2005). Using data from thelongitudinal Pittsburgh Youth Study, the present study examined the differentialneuropsychological correlates and antecedents of the life-course persistent, adolescence-limitedand low-level chronic trajectories of offending. Measures of verbal and spatial IQ, verbal andvisuo-spatial memory, verbal fluency, cognitive flexibility and sustained attention and clinicalsymptoms of inattention and impulsivity were collected and compared between groups.Significant group effects were demonstrated, independent of the potential confoundinginfluences of ethnicity, substance use, head injury and psychosocial adversity. Both the lifecoursepersistent and low-level chronic groups of offenders showed intellectual andneurocognitive impairments when compared to the adolescence-limited group of offenders and anon-delinquent control group. Differences were most apparent on verbal IQ, sustained attentionand impulsivity indices.The Psyche of Women who Commit Neonaticide: A Psychological Study ofWomen Who Kill Their Newborn ChildrenK.J. de Wijs-Heijlaerts, Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology(k.de.wijs@dji.minjus.nl)Neonaticide occurs when a biological mother takes the life of a newborn child within 24 hours ofits birth. It has been practised in all eras and in all cultures, mostly either because of harsh livingconditions, such as poverty and scarcity of food, or in order to dispose of unwanted (deformed,illegitimate or female) newborns. In this day and age neonaticide is committed by relativelyyoung, somewhat emotionally childish women and is characterized by keeping the pregnancyhidden from the environment for fear of discovery, and after delivering the child taking its lifeeither actively or passively. The mother then continues with everyday life. In a time whencontraceptives and abortion are available, such a crime provokes not only revulsion andindignation in society, but also calls forth incomprehension and raises many questions about thepersonality of the culprit, her background, her environment, a possible motive and whether thesekind of cases can be prevented. In this study we researched the existing literature on neonaticideand made an overview of the most important findings in order to answer the aforementionedquestions. Limitations in the current literature are discussed and new research topics areproposed.Criminal Responsibility and “Legal Self” ApproachGerben van de Kraats, Consulting Psychiatrist, Utrecht, Netherlands (gbvdkraats@ziggo.nl)Karel Oei, Tilburg University (t.i.oei@tilburguniversity.edu)168