Prisoners with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: co-morbidities and service pathways

Purpose Effective diagnostic and treatment pathways for ADHD are needed in prison settings due to the high prevalence of ADHD and comorbidities in the prison population. Methodology Two studies were carried out in two prisons in London. Firstly, data was collected to understand prevalence of ADHD and the comorbidities. The second study used quality improvement (QI) methodology to assess the impact of a diagnostic and treatment pathway for prisoners with ADHD. Findings 22.5% of the prisoners met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Nearly half of them screened positive for autism with a higher prevalence of mental disorders amongst prisoners with ADHD compared to those without. The QI project led to a significant increase in the number of prisoners identified as requiring ADHD assessment but a modest increase in the number of prisoners diagnosed or treated for ADHD. Originality High rates of neurodevelopmental disorders in the prison population needs to be addressed. Despite various challenges, an ADHD diagnostic and treatment pathway was set up in a prison using adapted QI methodology. Further research is needed to explore the feasibility of screening for ADHD in prison and examine the effectiveness of service delivery models.