Is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (adhd) a risk factor for juvenile delinquency?

摘要

Objective is to determine how undiagnosed and untreated Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) represents a risk factor for delinquent behavior in adolescence.Method: we have studied a group of 42 adolescents with ages between 14 and 18 years who had delinquent behavior which required forensic psychiatric expertise and a control group of 31 adolescents with ages between 14 and 18 with other psychiatric disorders but without delinquent behavior, from November 2012 until February 2013. We applied Youth Self Report (YSR) in order to study behavior and emotional disorders in adolescence. We analyzed YSR results related with other independent variables: sex, IQ, family, psycho-social conditions, educational level.Results showed that adolescents with delinquent behavior had externalizing symptoms especially: impulsivity, hyperactivity, poor self control, classified as ADHD diagnosis but also emotional symptomsConclusions: undiagnosed and untreated ADHD may be a risk factor for delinquent behavior compared with other psychiatric disorders in adolescence.