Half of people arrested in London could have undiagnosed ADHD, study finds
Half of people arrested in London may have undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a study has suggested.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have recommended voluntary screening for ADHD and autism over an eight-week period for people detained in six London Metropolitan Police detention centres.
The results showed one in two people arrested in the capital scored high enough on the screen to warrant further assessment for ADHD, and 5 per cent were thought to have undiagnosed autism.
The researchers behind the study said the results could help officers interpret behavior that could be “misunderstood” and provide appropriate support.
Neurodivergent individuals, particularly autistic people and people with ADHD, are overrepresented in prison populations, according to research published in the journal. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health.
Dr Tanya Procyshyn, research fellow at the Autism Research Center at the University of Cambridge, said: “To ensure fair treatment in the criminal justice system, we need to understand how neurodivergence affects interactions with the law. This could help prevent misunderstood behavior from being unnecessarily criminalized and ensure that potentially vulnerable individuals can access appropriate support.”
Dr Procyshyn and Dion Brown, a senior detective from the Metropolitan Police Service, jointly led a study to investigate the feasibility of screening arrested individuals for ADHD and autism-related traits and to examine the reasons that led to the arrest.
ADHD characteristics were assessed using a modified version of the adult ADHD self-report scale. Autistic traits were assessed using the 10-item autism spectrum section.
People who scored above thresholds for ADHD or autistic traits were advised and given additional information on how to seek a formal diagnosis.
Of the 303 people offered screening, 71 percent accepted and 8 percent had already been diagnosed with ADHD. This is 3 percent higher than the general population. Of those who scored above the ADHD threshold, 17 percent had a very high number of ADHD traits.
Nine individuals (4.2 percent) had a current diagnosis of autism; This is again slightly higher than the prevalence of autism in the general adult population (3 percent). An additional 5.4 percent scored at or above the threshold for probable undiagnosed autism.
More than half (60 percent) were arrested for drug offenses and had a current ADHD diagnosis or positive screening result. This supports previous studies that have found that some neurodivergent individuals can self-medicate with illicit substances.
But research shows that people with ADHD are less likely to engage in criminal behavior while taking medication for ADHD.
Detective Constable Brown said: “Early identification helps officers interpret behavior that might otherwise be misunderstood and ensures appropriate support is provided. This approach creates opportunities to divert vulnerable people away from the criminal justice process and towards the help they may need.”
