This study reconsiders the relationship of childhood Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) and childhood conduct problems with adult criminal activity
by clarifying
the role of the cardinal behaviors associated with the DSM-IV ADHD subtypes
(inattention
and hyperactivity/impulsivity). Since their childhood (average age
9 years), 230 male and 75
female subjects have been followed prospectively and were interviewed as
young adults
(average age 26 at follow-up). Early childhood behavior ratings by parents
and teachers were
examined to determine the role of conduct problems, hyperactivity-impulsivity,
and
inattention in predicting adult criminal involvement as measured by both
official arrest
records and self-report. Results show that both hyperactivity-impulsivity
and early conduct
problems independently, as well as jointly, predict a greater likelihood
of having an arrest
record for males, but not for females. For male subjects with 10 or more
self-reported crimes,
both early conduct problems and hyperactivity-impulsivity were significant
predictors, both
alone and in combination. Therefore, it appears that predominantly the
symptoms of
hyperactivity-impulsivity, but not inattention, contribute to the risk
for criminal involvement
over and above the risk associated with early conduct problems alone.