Retrospectively rated ADHD is linked to specific personality characteristics and deviant alcohol reactions

Abstract

A comprehensive assessment procedure involving interviews on social history, childhood hyperactivity, personality (including psychopathy), psychiatric symptoms, SCID diagnoses and deviant alcohol reactions (DAR), and a set of neuropsychological test procedures including dyslexia tests, was gone through by 51 male recidivist prison inmates. Data on crimes were available through the police register from age 15 up to and including a follow-up period of 18 months after release. Childhood hyperactivity was reported by 50% and persisted into adulthood for half of the subjects. DARs were reported by more than 30% of the inmates, covaried with hyperactivity, and were negatively associated with criminality. None of the neuropsychological indices, nor dyslexia, had any explanatory value for hyperactivity or DARs.