Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in persistent criminal offenders: the need for specialist treatment programs

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptom Status in a Mixed Gender Population of Opioid-Maintained Prison Inmates

“…The high proportion of inmates with former substance abuse is attributable to a lack of adequate treatment for substance dependence in some countries, and to high rates of drug-related crime [3]. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently linked to criminal activities [4,5]. A recent meta-analysis of 42 studies reported an estimated prevalence of 25.5% for ADHD in incarcerated populations [6], without reporting any medication details in the 26,641 included individuals.…”

“…Considering the overlap between substance abuse, ADHD and criminal behavior, it is disturbing that diagnostic screening of ADHD in prisons is not yet routinely implemented and remains underrepresented [1,5]. One of the reasons for this could be the limited amount of data on ADHD and its pharmacological treatment in custodial settings available [4,25], particularly for prisoners undergoing opioid-maintenance therapy (OMT).…”

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Males in the Juvenile Justice System

“…Studies in countries other than the United States (Canada, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the United Kingdom) reported an ADHD prevalence rate averaging 45% among juveniles in the correctional system (Young & Goodwin, 2010;Young et al, 2011). These findings provide strong confirmation that the 25% prevalence rate in the United States is indeed a conservative estimate.…”

“…For example, although over half of the cases with child onset CD do not persist into adult life, such persistence is much more likely if the CD is comorbid with ADHD (Rutter, 2011). Similarly, delinquents with ADHD, in comparison to delinquents without ADHD, have earlier and more frequent involvement with the criminal justice system and a greater frequency and severity of aggression when incarcerated (Young & Goodwin, 2010).…”

Characterising the psychiatric comorbidities among adults with ADHD who have a history of offending

“…Identifying predictors of offending, psychiatric comorbidities or symptoms of psychopathology among a population with such high rates of offending can be beneficial for clinicians working with this population, as it allows them to identify factors that may amplify the risk of offending among adults with ADHD. More specifically there appears to be great need for specialist treatment programmes for persistent criminal offenders with ADHD, taking into account their complex comorbidities (Young & Goodwin, 2010). This would provide information regarding risk factors and allow clinicians to possibly design and implement preventative treatment and therapeutic programmes in order to ensure that symptoms of psychopathology and psychiatric comorbidities do not worsen and offending behaviours do not commence or continue.…”