RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reading disability, and personality disorders in a prison population
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 186
OP 193
VO 29
IS 2
A1 K Rasmussen
A1 R Almvik
A1 S Levander
YR 2001
UL http://jaapl.org/content/29/2/186.abstract
AB Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has long been recognized in children, and for many the disorder persists into adulthood. There is a growing concern that the adults with ADHD who have the least favorable outcome, are among those who end up in prison. The aim of this study was 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 is very common among prison inmates. Personality disorders and reading difficulties are also common. Psychiatric comorbidity complicates the diagnosis of ADHD in adults. A greater awareness about ADHD in adults certainly is warranted, especially within the prison system because of the risk of misdiagnosing psychiatric disorders and also the risk of missing a condition possibly amenable to treatment.