Predictors of institutional behavioural disturbance and offending in the community among young offenders

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of conduct disorder (CD), substance misuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms to the history of delinquency, current institutional behavioural problems and critical incidents (CI). Fifty-four adolescents in a secure facility were screened for ADHD and CD and completed the Maudsley violence questionnaire, the disruptive behaviour and social problems scale and the self-report delinquency scale. Substance misuse history as well as CI over the previous 10 weeks were also recorded. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that substance misuse and violent cognitions were the best predictors of self-reported delinquency. In contrast, ADHD predicted disruptive institutional behaviour above and beyond that of CD and substance misuse. The findings suggest that ADHD symptoms are important in predicting institutional behavioural disturbance, whereas substance misuse and violent cognitions are better predictors of delinquency in the community.

Keywords:

• ADHD
• conduct disorder
• delinquency
• substance misuse
• behavioural disturbance
• critical incidents

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the contribution of Sanita Hochhauser, Phillipa Carter and Jade Redfern to the study for data collection, and the support of staff at Orchard Lodge. This study was partly funded by Janssen-Cilag Ltd, Saunderton, Bucks, HP14 4HJ, United Kingdom.