ADHD Among Offenders: Prevalence and Relationship With Psychopathic Traits. 2020

Ana Machado, and Diana Rafaela, and Tânia Silva, and Tânia Veigas, and Joaquim Cerejeira
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.

Objective: Longitudinal studies have shown a strong association between ADHD and criminal behavior. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of adult ADHD in a high-security facility and to investigate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and psychopathic traits in criminal offenders. Material and Methods: Participants were recruited between October 2015 and January 2016 among the inmates from a high-security all-male correctional facility in Portugal. Self-report scales were used to measure ADHD symptoms, current psychopathology, and psychopathic traits. An interview was conducted to collect sociodemographic data, along with information about adverse childhood experiences, substance use, and criminal record. The statistical analysis was conducted using STATA 13 with the significance level set at .05. Results: From the final sample of 101 male prisoners, 17 participants (16.8%) screened positive for ADHD. Participants positive for ADHD had higher levels of general psychopathology and psychopathic traits. Psychopathic traits remained significantly higher in ADHD offenders after controlling for age, substance abuse, and early childhood adversities (OR = 1.07, p = .002) and this was explained by differences in the Meanness subscale (OR = 1.11, p = .013). Discussion/conclusions: The present study shows that ADHD symptoms are highly prevalent among offenders and might have a modulating effect on the course of delinquent behavior. The cross-sectional association between ADHD symptoms and psychopathic traits reinforces the previously documented correlation between these disorders and can lead to a better understanding of the prevalent criminal behavior in ADHD patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011329 Prisoners Persons deprived of their liberty; those held is against their will, or who are kept in confinement or custody. Detained Persons,Hostages,Imprisoned Individuals,Incarcerated Individuals,Inmates,Detained Person,Hostage,Imprisoned Individual,Incarcerated Individual,Individual, Imprisoned,Individual, Incarcerated,Inmate,Person, Detained,Prisoner
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000987 Antisocial Personality Disorder A personality disorder whose essential feature is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. The individual must be at least age 18 and must have a history of some symptoms of CONDUCT DISORDER before age 15. (From DSM-IV, 1994). Antisocial Behavior,Deviant Behavior,Dyssocial Behavior,Personality Disorder, Antisocial,Psychopathic Personality,Sociopathic Personality,Antisocial Personality,Antisocial Behaviors,Antisocial Personalities,Antisocial Personality Disorders,Behavior, Antisocial,Behavior, Deviant,Behavior, Dyssocial,Behaviors, Antisocial,Behaviors, Deviant,Behaviors, Dyssocial,Deviant Behaviors,Disorder, Antisocial Personality,Disorders, Antisocial Personality,Dyssocial Behaviors,Personalities, Antisocial,Personalities, Psychopathic,Personalities, Sociopathic,Personality Disorders, Antisocial,Personality, Antisocial,Personality, Psychopathic,Personality, Sociopathic,Psychopathic Personalities,Sociopathic Personalities
D001289 Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity A behavior disorder originating in childhood in which the essential features are signs of developmentally inappropriate inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Although most individuals have symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, one or the other pattern may be predominant. The disorder is more frequent in males than females. Onset is in childhood. Symptoms often attenuate during late adolescence although a minority experience the full complement of symptoms into mid-adulthood. (From DSM-V) ADHD,Attention Deficit Disorder,Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,Brain Dysfunction, Minimal,Hyperkinetic Syndrome,Minimal Brain Dysfunction,ADDH,Attention Deficit Disorders with Hyperactivity,Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders,Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder,Attention Deficit Disorders,Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorders,Deficit Disorder, Attention,Deficit Disorders, Attention,Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention,Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorders, Attention,Disorder, Attention Deficit,Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity,Disorders, Attention Deficit,Disorders, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity,Dysfunction, Minimal Brain,Syndromes, Hyperkinetic
D015995 Prevalence The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences

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