ADHD modulates the course of delinquency: a 15-year follow-up study of young incarcerated man

Abstract

There is growing evidence of an association between ADHD and rule-breaking behaviour and that subjects with ADHD are more likely to be involved in the legal system. However, the research on ADHD as a risk factor not only for delinquency but also for recidivism is scarce and findings are controversial. Therefore, we explored the impact of ADHD on the course of delinquency in a sample of incarcerated young men. We conducted a 15-year follow-up study by investigating the criminal records of 106 former youth prisoners. Criminal recidivism was operationalized through three variables: criminal recidivism; frequency of recidivism; and time to recidivism. The incremental predictive validity of ADHD was analysed using survival analysis and controlled for confounders associated with recidivism. Offenders with ADHD (n = 74) reoffended 2.5 times faster and showed a higher rate of recidivism and further incarcerations compared to non-ADHD offenders (n = 33), even when controlling for general risk factors such as antisocial personality disorder. Median survival rate ranged between 6 and 7 months in the ADHD groups and 25 months in the non-ADHD group. Our results revealed that ADHD has an incremental predictive power on criminal recidivism, even above general risk factors. Moreover, the criminogenic influence of ADHD appeared to be crucial in terms of the interplay of childhood ADHD, irrespectively of the persistence of the symptomatology into later life. Our findings therefore highlight the importance of early intervention and consequently prevention.

Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Detention Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Another explanation may be that young offenders with ADHD are diverted out of the criminal justice system and referred early on to psychiatric outpatient clinics or adapted residential homes ( 5 ). Further, adults with ADHD may be over-represented in prison settings in comparison with the general population, because ADHD symptoms is associated with an increased risk of offending ( 5 – 7 ).…”

“…ADHD is associated with an increased risk of having judicial contact at a younger age, including rule-breaking behaviors, delinquency, criminality, and recidivism ( 5 – 7 ). ADHD seems to be significantly more prevalent in incarcerated populations in comparison with the general population and it has been extensively studied in detention settings over the two last decades ( 5 ).…”

“…Compared with other offenders, incarcerated individuals with ADHD are more likely to engage in misconduct in prison, for example, be verbally and physically aggressive ( 8 , 9 ), have higher rates of recidivism ( 10 ), and have unsuccessful experiences with the criminal justice system as well as with probation ( 11 ). Therefore, ADHD seems to be a critical factor of the criminal career ( 7 ), but further investigations are needed to understand how ADHD is associated with involvement in the legal system.…”

Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Malaysian Forensic Mental Hospital: a Cross-sectional Study

“…35 Hyperactivity-impulsivity may predict increased criminal offending among individuals with persistent ADHD in early adulthood. 36 Adults with ADHD had a younger age of onset of offending by around 2.5 years than those without ADHD (16 years vs 19.5 years). 15 The impact of untreated ADHD symptoms, especially in early adulthood, on criminal involvement should not be underestimated.…”

Cognitive‐motivational, interpersonal, and behavioral functioning in relationship to treatment and research engagement in forensic patients with ADHD

“…Compared to the general population, a 5 to 10‐fold increased prevalence of ADHD has been reported in forensic samples (e.g., Young, Moss, Sedgwick, Fridman, & Hodgkins, 2015). ADHD symptoms are further associated with an earlier age of onset for offending behavior and increased reoffending rates in forensic populations (Philipp‐Wiegmann et al, 2018; Young, Wells, & Gudjonsson, 2011). Furthermore, patients with ADHD are at an increased risk because of comorbid externalizing disorders (e.g., antisocial personality disorder, substance use disorders; Retz & Rösler, 2010), and associated risk factors, such as attachment problems (Houtepen, Sijtsema, Van der Lem, Van Hooydonk, & Bogaerts, 2019).…”