SynthesisBrain and behavior2024
A Remedy for Crime? A Systematic Review on the Effects of Pharmacological ADHD Treatment on Criminal Recidivism and Rehabilitation in Inmates With ADHD.
Synthesis in Brain and behavior, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mediating roles of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and self-control on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult aggression.Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) · 2026Article
- Risk and resilience: adverse and positive childhood experiences and aggression in adults with and without ADHD.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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Abstract
introductionThere is a high prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in prison populations compared to the general population, and ADHD has also been shown to be associated with criminality and antisocial behavior. This systematic review examines the effect of pharmacological ADHD treatment on criminal recidivism, ADHD symptoms, and rehabilitation in inmates with ADHD.
methodsAdhering to PRISMA 2020 and AMSTAR guidelines, we conducted a structured search on September 6, 2023 using PubMed. We focused on original research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, following the IMRaD format, written in English, containing the established search terms, based on participants who met the criteria for ADHD diagnosis (any edition of DSM), and who were incarcerated at the start of pharmacological treatment for ADHD. The primary outcome was criminal recidivism, the secondary outcomes were ADHD symptoms, and rehabilitation-related factors such as global function, norm-breaking/antisocial behavior, adaptation to society/institutional behavior, cognitive function, and well-being.
resultsFive studies, based on three patient cohorts, were included in this systematic review. Surprisingly, only one study investigated criminal recidivism. That study indicated that self-reported criminal recidivism was lower than expected among inmates who had received pharmacological ADHD treatment. The five studies showed varying results in the effectiveness of pharmacological ADHD treatment on ADHD symptoms and other rehabilitation-related factors. The included studies also varied regarding participant characteristics, study design, dosage, adherence to treatment, treatment regimes, and measured outcomes. All studies reported using osmotic-release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate as their drug of choice.
conclusionWe conclude that there is limited empirical evidence to support the efficacy of pharmacological ADHD treatment on criminal recidivism in inmates diagnosed with ADHD. Still, evidence suggests that these treatments can reduce ADHD symptoms and enhance rehabilitation outcomes, which may, in turn, lower the rate of reoffending. We point to the need for more targeted research in this area.
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