So, does Vladimir Putin have Asperger syndrome?

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, may have an autistic disorder. At least, that’s what a newly released report claims.

Today, headlines around the world are buzzing with the news that Russian president Vladimir Putin may have Asperger syndrome.

As USA Today revealed, studies from 2008 to 2001 commissioned by the US government suggest Putin has “an autistic disorder which affects all of his decisions”, which may be Asperger’s.

Study leader Brenda Connors of the US Naval War College in Rhode Island concluded that Putin‘s “neurological development was significantly interrupted in infancy” and“carries a neurological abnormality”, USA Today reports.

The study, which is based on watching videos of the Russian leader, note that the Russian leader’s face is “relatively flat in social settings”.

It also took into account the fact that “if the upper part of their face doesn’t show much emotion, it means they’re not really even there”, US psychologist Stephen Porges told The Guardian.

The study was conducted by Connors and colleagues for a Pentagon think tank known as the Office of Net Assessment.

The report had us all talking in the Mamamia office this morning — but there’s two very big problems with it.

Firstly, Asperger syndrome — and other autism disorders — should be diagnosed by a professional. Needless to say, “professional” does not simply mean “contractors of a foreign government who have simply watched a few videos”.

While there’s no single test for diagnosing the syndrome, doctors can assess a person with the syndrome by looking primarily at difficulties with social interactions, and by examining other areas like language development, difficulty understanding humour, facial expressions, body posture, social interaction and interest in interacting with others, according to HealthLine.

Thus, as Dr Stephen Porges, who helped with the study, admitted to The Guardian: “You don’t diagnose based on videotapes.”

Related content: The day I told my daughters they have Asperger’s.

Dr Porges also mentioned that while Putin showed some expressions and behaviours suggesting “asocial qualities” shared by people with autistic disorders, many people without those qualities don’t have autism.

Even Connors herself admitted the inability to perform brain scans on Putin made it difficult to confirm the suspected diagnosis.

Secondly, in claiming Putin has “an autistic disorder which affects all of his decisions”, the report seems to be suggesting that Putin’s controversial decisions may be down to his supposed disorder.

In its article revealing the study’s content, USA Today comprehensively listed Putin’s unpopular political moves, like annexing Crimea from neighbouring Ukraine and backing Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Was the article actually suggesting his supposed disorder is at the root of these unpopular decisions? It’s unclear, although some Twitter commentators have certainly gone down that path:

But what is clear is this:

To speculatively diagnose someone with a disorder without the relevant qualifications — and without even having met that person — is, frankly, a bit off.

Let’s remember this: There are 74,000 people in Australia with diagnosed Asperger’s, and they generally have no delay in cognitive development and adaptive behaviour. They also, on the whole, don’t support the kind of draconian measures introduced by Putin since he became President.

Related content: Russia’s homophobic laws.

Most of them don’t support the homophobic laws introduced by Putin in 2013. Most of them don’t support Russia’s decision to annex Crimea, in a move described as “illegitimate” by US President Obama. Most of them don’t support the sending of sending troops and armour to help rebels in Ukraine.

Most of don’t support Putin’s refusal to crack down on those rebels when they allegedly shot MH17 out of the sky.

Related content: Tony Abbott threatens to “shirtfront” Vladimir Putin.

Whether or not Vladimir Putin has Asperger syndrome, it’s not our place to “diagnose” him from afar, and it’s certainly not our place to suggest the syndrome may be accountable for Putin’s slew of dreadful political moves; in fact, that’s insulting, misguided and, frankly, quite ridiculous.

So in sum, as Dr Porges summed up in his interview with The Guardian: “Everyone should drop this whole thing about Asperger’s and autism.”

Because a draconian leader is a draconian leadear, Asperger’s or not.