Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Intervention as crime prevention.

Abstract

A disproportionate number of individuals with ADHD are represented in the population of incarcerated youth and adults. Although the predictive relationship between ADHD diagnoses and later delinquency is well established, very little information is available on the outcome of youth in terms of delinquency who received various interventions for ADHD. As such it is relatively unknown, but often assumed, that intervention for ADHD symptoms also prevents later criminal activity and thus incarceration and recidivism. The purpose of this paper was to examine the relevant literature in the areas of ADHD and delinquency intervention, illuminating this potentially important gap, and to provide possible future research directions to help clarify the issue.