ADHD in Incarcerated Youths



Literature Review: ADHD in incarcerated youths

Until recently, ADHD was most often diagnosed during childhood. It is now known that ADHD continues into adulthood, although symptoms can change from childhood to adulthood, even occurring amiongst prisoners and offenders of crime (Barsky & Borus, 1995). The purpose of this literature review is to establish if relationships that have been uncovered in the mainstream ADHD literature exist among incarcerated youth (Resnick, 2000).

The American Psychiatric Association (1994) presents the sign of disorder deficit of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity - impulsivity, whose presence is detected before the seven years age, impairment from the symptoms appear as a minimum in two environments, affecting the social, academic and labor cannot be explained by the presence of a mental disorder or in the course of a developmental disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder (Resnick, 2000).

Consequently, it is widely prevalent in the juvenile justice system and should be included in every mental health screening that should take place when a juvenile becomes involved with the system as well as treatment planning. The objective of this chapter is to present the empirical support for these contentions for male juvenile offenders (Lynam & Derefinko, 2006). The focus is restricted to males since, although the correlates of antisocial behavior in male and females have typically been found to be the same, the literature on females is slight compared to that of males and thus problematic with regard to the reliability of the findings (Davison, 2001).

ADHD-The Correlates and Impact

Severe antisocial behavior is legally designated, delinquency, when it refers to behavior that violates criminal law and psychiatrically designated, conduct disorder (CD), when it refers to a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age- appropriate societal norms are violated (Lynam & Derefinko, 2006). There is strong empirical support establishing a robust association between ADHD and increased risk for the development of severe antisocial behavior defined either legally or psychiatrically (Resnick, 2000).

Developmental Model

In contrast to earlier views of ADHD as a condition affecting young offenders who typically 'outgrow' the symptoms, the current view is that ADHD, more often than not, is a lifelong condition manifesting itself differently across the developmental stages. About 75 percent of individuals with ADHD continue to display symptoms throughout adolescence and adulthood. About 2 percent of individuals with ADHD are diagnosed during their preschool years. Offenders identified during preschool typically display behaviors associated with hyperactivity and impulsivity. These offenders usually are detected early because their behavioral symptoms are so severe that clinic referral is warranted. Frequently, offenders identified early may also have oppositional behaviors that accompany the attentional difficulties.

These offenders are often described as disorganized, careless, uncontrollable, noncompliant, defiant, and physically/verbally abusive to other offenders and adults. Intervention during the preschool years is critical for young offenders with ADHD because of the increasing academic and social demands when they enter ...