We report the case of a young man with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and multiple drug abuse who died in hospital following a period of prolonged physical restraint. The literature is reviewed, possible factors contributing to death discussed and measures which may reduce the incidence of such deaths in the future highlighted.

This finding supports a growing body of evidence suggesting that the manifestation of idiopathic ADHD symptoms may stem from a neurophysiologic process that is different from the ADHD symptomatology associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Individuals who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol and present with ADHD symptomatology may represent a unique endophenotype of the disorder, which may require different treatment approaches from those found to be effective with idiopathic ADHD.