Pharmacological Treatment of ADHD May Cut Some Forms of Criminality
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Pharmacological treatment may reduce some types of criminality among adolescents and young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published online in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Tarjei Widding-Havneraas, from Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway, and colleagues estimated causal effects of pharmacological treatment of ADHD on four-year criminal outcomes. Analysis included registry data from 5,624 patients (aged 10 to 18 years) diagnosed with ADHD between 2009 and 2011, their use of ADHD medication, and subsequent criminal charges.
The researchers found that criminality was higher in patients with ADHD versus the general population. There was variation in medication preference by clinics, which strongly affected patients' treatment. There was a protective effect of pharmacological treatment on violence-related and public order-related charges (numbers needed to treat: 14 and eight, respectively). However, there was no association seen between treatment and drug-, traffic-, sexual-, or property-related charges.
"In 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," the authors write. "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."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
![](/img/logo/vendor/healthday-logo.png)
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2024
Read this next
Mean Cost of Bringing New Drug to U.S. Market Is $879.3 Million
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- The mean cost of developing a new drug for the U.S. market is estimated to be $879.3 million when both drug development failure and capital costs are...
Patient–Primary Care Provider Language Concordance Tied to Better Outcomes
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- Patient-family physician language concordance is associated with a lower risk for adverse outcomes, according to a study published online June 3...
Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam Improves Detection of Cognitive Issues in Primary Care
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- A self-administered gerocognitive examination (SAGE) is easily incorporated into primary care provider (PCP) visits, and its use significantly increases...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.