Bryan Kohberger Is Diagnosed With Four Neurological And Mental Health Disorders

Bryan Kohberger, the man who pleaded guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, divulged he was diagnosed with four separate mental health and neurological conditions in the months leading up to his guilty plea in a court filing dated June.

The 30-year-old, currently serving four consecutive life terms for the slayings of Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, and Ethan Chapin, revealed he was diagnosed in February 2025. Such conditions, documented in the court papers obtained by People, are Level 1 Autism, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

Even the lowest level, Level 1 Autism, also called Zakrit-Skim Autism or The Less Severe Form of Autism, the mildest type in the Autism Spectrum, is still marked by difficulty in communicating and social problems. People with this diagnosis might be able to go through life autonomously, but they may not understand subtle social cues or how to form intimate friendships. Kohberger’s court records filing presents this as a significant part of his mental health profile.

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It says Kohberger, 47, also suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), another condition marked by unwanted, recurring thoughts that compel the sufferer to engage in ritualistic behaviors. Such behaviors, which are intended to decrease anxiety, can have a marked effect on everyday life and decision-making. The court records also mentioned ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Usually, it affects the ability to focus, control impulses, and pay attention. There is a considerable variety in the way ADHD is presented from individual to individual, but it affects all aspects of an individual’s life, both personal and professional.

ARFID, the fourth diagnosis, is an eating disorder that is not as well-known. Unlike those with the most common eating disorders, ARFID sufferers are not driven by concerns about body image or weight, instead, their eating is limited either by a hypersensitivity to food textures and smells, a disinterest in food, or fear of choking or vomiting. This can ultimately result in severe nutritional deficits and in physical health. Kohberger’s admission of mental illness came only days before he pleaded guilty to the two counts of murder and one count of burglary in an Idaho courtroom.

The diagnoses offer a window into his neurological and psychological profile, but experts warn that these conditions in themselves can’t account for or justify the bloodshed. The revelation presents a complicated twist in the case that captivated the nation in 2022 and reveals the intersection of extreme criminal conduct and reported mental health struggles. As the legal and psychiatric conversations go on and on, Kohberger’s case stands as a template for how knotted and messy concepts of criminal responsibility and mental health assessments can be.