ADHD Among Offenders: Prevalence and Relationship With Psychopathic Traits

Interpersonal trauma and its relation to childhood psychopathic traits: what does ADHD and ODD add to the equation?

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma has demonstrated associations with callous-unemotional traits (e.g., reflecting lack of remorse and guilt, unconcern about own performance). Less is known about associations between trauma and multiple domains of child psychopathic traits. There has also been limited focus on the role of co-occurring disorders to psychopathy traits among children, namely, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and how they interact with childhood trauma.

METHODS

We examined to what degree childhood interpersonal trauma can predict parent-rated psychopathic traits in a large population based Swedish twin sample (N = 5057), using a stringent definition of interpersonal trauma occurring before age 10. Two hundred and fifty-one participants met the interpersonal trauma criteria for analysis. The study explored the additional impact of traits of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

RESULTS

Linear regressions demonstrated statistically significant but clinically negligible effects of interpersonal trauma on total and subscale scores of parent-rated psychopathic traits. When exploring interaction effects of ADHD and ODD into the model, the effect increased. There were interaction effects between ODD and trauma in relation to psychopathic traits, suggesting a moderating role of ODD. Having been exposed to trauma before age 10 was significantly associated with higher parent rated psychopathy traits as measured by The Child Problematic Traits Inventory-Short Version (CPTI-SV), however the explained variance was small (0.3-0.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results challenge the notion of association between interpersonal trauma and youth psychopathic traits. They also highlight the need to gain an improved understanding of overlap between psychopathic traits, ADHD and ODD for clinical screening purposes and the underlying developmental mechanisms.

ADHD and offending

OBJECTIVES

International studies have reported disproportionately higher rates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among youth and adult offenders across police custody, prison, probation and forensic mental health settings, estimated to fall at around 25%. This review aimed to investigate the presentation and vulnerabilities of this subpopulation of people with ADHD compared to those with ADHD in the general population and consider how this may impact on the approach to assessment and treatment in this population.

METHODOLOGY

A selective review of the extant literature was conducted to investigate how offenders with ADHD may present differently from their non-ADHD peers in their clinical presentation, criminogenic behaviour and psychological vulnerabilities.

RESULTS

Nearly all (around 96%) offenders with ADHD have additional comorbid problems, including mood, anxiety, conduct, substance use and personality disorders. Compared with offenders without ADHD, they become involved in the criminal justice system (CJS) at a younger age, have higher rates of recidivism, are more likely to make a false confession, engage in behavioural disturbances in custody, have health risk behaviours and a lower quality of life. Assessing and treating ADHD in this subpopulation may be more complex due to their presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Offenders with ADHD are disadvantaged within the system by their ADHD symptoms being unrecognised and/or misunderstood; their diagnosis of ADHD may be missed or misdiagnosed. This is at cost to the individual, from both a health and rehabilitative perspective, as well as more broadly to society.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), antisociality and delinquent behavior over the lifespan

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is closely linked to the development of conduct problems during socialization in early life and to an increased risk for antisocial activities and delinquency over the lifespan. The interaction between ADHD and common comorbid disorders like substance use disorders as well as changing environmental conditions could mediate the course of antisocial and delinquent behavior with increasing age. However, this complex interaction is only partially understood so far. This review presents current knowledge about the association of ADHD with antisociality and the development of delinquent behavior. Thereby, the relationships between ADHD, conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder in offenders are discussed, as well as the impact of comorbid psychiatric disorders and psychosocial conditions on offending behavior. Also, treatment studies in offender populations with ADHD are presented. Although our understanding of the role of ADHD in the development of criminal behavior has substantially improved during the last two decades, more research is needed to further elucidate the mechanisms generating unfavorable outcomes and to engender adequate treatment strategies for this population at risk. Moreover, more attention is needed on children with conduct problems in order to avoid antisocial or delinquent behaviors over the lifespan.

ADHD-Related Mental Health Issues of Young Adult Male Prisoners in Pravieniškės Correction House-Open Colony (Lithuania)

The aim of this study was to evaluate mental health issues related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young adult male prisoners.

The study was performed in the Pravieniškės Correction House-Open Prison Colony and represents the first study on adult ADHD in Lithuania. The sample consisted of 100 young males imprisoned for mild to moderate crimes. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Adult Self-Report Scale v1.1 (ASRS v1.1) and Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) self-rating scales. Related mental health issues were evaluated using the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5, and data from both medical files and offenses-incentives lists.

Clinically significant ADHD symptoms were found in 17% of the respondents. Prisoners with ADHD were younger and had shorter incentives lists. Personality traits of negative affect, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism with increased personality dysfunction were more prevalent in the respondents with ADHD. Medical files of prisoners with ADHD more frequently included data on substance abuse, psychiatric diagnoses, and psychopharmacological treatment. None of the respondents had been diagnosed or treated for this disorder.

Clinically significant ADHD symptoms were highly prevalent among imprisoned males, but ADHD was not diagnosed or treated correctly. These findings show that the problem of ADHD in young male adults with increased risk for criminal behavior needs recognition by the politicians and professionals responsible for health care in Lithuania in order to better care for prisoners with this psychopathology.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Prison System

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To examine recent advances in the understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among the prison population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Efforts have been made to develop useful tools for assessing ADHD among prisoners. Prisoners with ADHD demonstrate incremental vulnerability due to comorbid psychiatric disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders and traumatic brain injury. Compared with prisoners without ADHD, prisoners with ADHD become involved in the criminal justice system at a younger age and have higher rates of recidivism in adulthood. Recent studies demonstrate the effectiveness of extended release stimulant medication and psychological interventions. Early identification and treatment of prisoners with ADHD have the potential to demonstrate health economic benefits. Our understanding of ADHD among prisoners continues to develop. However, further research is needed, particularly among neglected groups such as females. Much more attention is needed by the prison service to engender better outcomes for this at-risk population.