Effect of Pharmacological Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Criminality.
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
; 63(4): 433-442, 2024 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37385582
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Criminality rates are higher among persons with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and evidence that medication reduces crime is limited. Medication rates between clinics vary widely even within universal health care systems, partly because of providers' treatment preferences. We used this variation to estimate causal effects of pharmacological treatment of ADHD on 4-year criminal outcomes.METHOD:
We used Norwegian population-level registry data to identify all unique patients aged 10 to 18 years diagnosed with ADHD between 2009 and 2011 (n = 5,624), their use of ADHD medication, and subsequent criminal charges. An instrumental variable design, exploiting variation in provider preference for ADHD medication between clinics, was used to identify causal effects of ADHD medication on crime among patients on the margin of treatment, that is, patients who receive treatment because of their provider's preference.RESULTS:
Criminality was higher in patients with ADHD relative to the general population. Medication preference varied between clinics and strongly affected patients' treatment. Instrumental variable analyses supported a protective effect of pharmacological treatment on violence-related and public-order-related charges with numbers needed to treat of 14 and 8, respectively. There was no evidence for effects on drug-, traffic-, sexual-, or property-related charges.CONCLUSION:
This is the first study to demonstrate causal effects of pharmacological treatment of ADHD on some types of crimes in a population-based natural experiment. Pharmacological treatment of ADHD reduced crime related to impulsive-reactive behavior in patients with ADHD on the margin of treatment. No effects were found on crimes requiring criminal intent, conspiracy, and planning. STUDY PREREGISTRATION INFORMATION The ADHD controversy project Long-term effects of ADHD medication; https//www.isrctn.com/; 11891971.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad
/
Criminales
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
Asunto de la revista:
PEDIATRIA
/
PSIQUIATRIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article