Citation

Mohr-Jensen C, Steinhausen HC. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 2016; 48: 32-42.

Affiliation

Research Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark; Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Switzerland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.002

PMID

27390061

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to systematically review and estimate the risk of arrests, convictions, and incarcerations associated with childhood Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in long-term outcome studies. In addition, all included studies were qualitatively and systematically reviewed for predictors of long-term crimes. The databases Pubmed, PsycINFO and Embase were searched for all controlled studies that included children and adolescents (age 4-15) with ADHD who had been followed longitudinally and reported the frequency of arrests, convictions or incarcerations based on data from official sources. Using random-effects models, the relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was estimated. A total of 15,442 individuals with childhood ADHD from nine unique samples were included. Childhood ADHD was significantly associated with adolescent and adulthood arrests (RR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.5), convictions (RR: 3.3, 95% CI: 2.1-5.2) and incarcerations (RR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9-4.3). Individuals with ADHD had a younger age at onset of antisocial involvement and an increased risk of criminal recidivism. The most frequently committed criminal offenses were theft, assault, drug- and weapon-related crimes. Early antisocial behavior problems, childhood maltreatment, sex, and IQ were identified as potentially relevant predictors for antisocial outcomes. The findings support a substantial long-term risk associated with ADHD for later antisocial involvement. Early intensive and specifically targeted multimodal intervention including psychosocial, and pharmacological treatment is warranted to alter these negative long-term developmental trajectories.

Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en