Association Between ADHD and Psychopathology Among Prison Inmates

Abstract

Introduction

Several studies showed that among people with ADHD, the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities is the rule, both in general population and in perpetrators.

Objectives

To analyze the relationship between ADHD and other psychiatric symptoms among prison inmates from a high security male prison in Portugal.

Methods

A total of 101 subjects aged 18–65, with at least 4 years of formal education, were interviewed for socio-demographic data and completed the ASRS-v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) and the BSI (Brief Symptom Inventory). Subjects were divided into ADHD positive or negative according to their score on ASRS-v1.1, and then compared regarding BSI scores using Student's t-test.

Results

Seventeen subjects scored positive for ADHD. They significantly differed from the non-ADHD group in the total BSI score (t = −4.27, P < 0.001). When looking into the different subscales of BSI, the groups differed in the subscales of obsessions/compulsions (t = −4.05, P < 0.001), interpersonal sensibility (t = −3.47, P 0.001), hostility (t = −6.71, P < 0.001), paranoia (t = −3.17, P 0.002) and psychotism (t = −3.20, P 0.002), with the ADHD group scoring higher in all the mentioned subscales. No significant differences were found between the groups in the subscales regarding anxiety, depression or somatization.

Conclusions

In line with previous work, our study showed a higher prevalence of psychopathology in prison inmates with ADHD, then in non-ADHD subjects. However, while higher prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in ADHD subjects is mentioned in other studies, we found no differences between the two groups concerning those subscales. The subscales that significantly differed, point to higher prevalence of disfunctional relationships and a higher tendency for violent behaviour in the ADHD group.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.