[Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and personality disorders in treated in-patient and incarcerated...

Prevalence and comorbidity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and personality disorders (PD) were studied in a sample of juvenile in-patients (n = 43) and a sample of detained adolescents. The prevalence of ADHD showed no difference between detainees and in-patients, but significantly more incarcerated girls than boys reported ADHD-symptoms. PD and comorbid PDs were significantly more prevalent in the detained sample: whereas the in-patient juveniles fulfilled more often criteria for passive-avoidant and obsessive-compulsive PD, the detainees showed more antisocial PD (ASPD) and narcissistic PD. Incarcerated boys showed more paranoid, narcissistic and antisocial PD, detained girls more borderline PD (BPD). The incarcerated adolescents with BPD reported significantly more ADHD during childhood and current hyperactivity; the detainees with ASPD had more often hyperactivity during childhood. Furthermore, for both genders most and greatest correlations were found for ADHD and psychopathy. Moreover, there were significant relations between BPD and hyperactivity as well as impulsive behaviour. The incarcerated boys showed correlations between ASPD and ADHD and early impulsivity; in detained girls BPD and hyperactivity were associated and PD-dimensions and ADHD. This study indicates that ADHD and PD are often found disorders in juvenile at-risk populations which show on the one hand gender related prevalence differences and on the other hand significant overlap. This result contributes to the ongoing discussion on the conceptual handling of both diagnoses on the basis of current classification systems.