Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Reading Disability, and Personality Disorders in a Prison Population

• NCJ Number: 189636
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: 2001 Pages: 186-193
• Author(s): Kirsten Rasmussen Ph.D.; Roger Almvik RPN; Sten Levander M.D.
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reading disability, and personality disorders in a prison population.

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has long been recognized in children, and for many the disorder persists into adulthood. There is growing concern that adults with ADHD who have the least favorable outcome are among those who end up in prison. This study attempts to assess childhood ADHD and its persistence into adulthood among a representative sample of Norwegian prison inmates, as well as personality disorders and reading difficulties, which in previous studies have been linked to ADHD. The results indicate that persistent ADHD, personality disorders, and reading difficulties are very common among prison inmates. Psychiatric comorbidity complicates the diagnosis of ADHD in adults. The article concludes that a greater awareness of ADHD is warranted, especially within the prison system because of the risk of misdiagnosing psychiatric disorders and the risk of missing a condition possibly amenable to treatment. Tables, references