Neurodiversity in Custody: Screening Results for ADHD and Autistic Traits in Individuals Arrested by the London Metropolitan Police.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified high rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism in incarcerated populations. Despite such findings and the potential benefits of screening for undiagnosed autism and ADHD at earlier stages of police contact, such efforts are rare. AIMS: To screen arrested individuals for ADHD and autistic traits while in police custody. METHODS: Over an 8-week period, individuals arrested and detained at six police custody centres in London, UK, were offered screening for ADHD and autistic traits. ADHD traits were assessed using a modified version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and autistic traits using the 10-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10). Screening was carried out in person at the custody site by a healthcare professional, designated detention officer or arresting police officer. Individuals who screened above the thresholds (≥ 21 for ASRS, ≥ 6 for AQ-10) were informed and provided additional information on how to seek a formal diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 303 eligible arrestees, 216 (71.3%) consented to screening. The screening tools identified 50% and 5% of arrestees without an existing diagnosis as warranting further assessment for ADHD and autism, respectively. ADHD and autism trait scores were correlated (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). Nearly 60% of individuals arrested for drug offences had an existing diagnosis or positive screening result for ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest high rates of ADHD and autistic traits in arrestees, particularly among individuals arrested for drug offences. Screening for ADHD and autism at early stages of police contact could serve as a key opportunity to identify undiagnosed individuals and inform appropriate management.

Journal Title

Crim Behav Ment Health

Journal ISSN

0957-9664
1471-2857

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons

Publisher DOI

https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.70018

Rights and licensing

Except where otherwised noted, this item's license is described as Attribution 4.0 International

Sponsorship

Funding statement SBC received funding from the Wellcome Trust 214322\Z\18\Z. For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. SBC also received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 777394 for the project AIMS-2-TRIALS. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA and AUTISM SPEAKS, Autistica, SFARI. SBC also received funding from Autism Action, SFARI, the Templeton World Charitable Fund and the MRC. We are grateful to Cambridge University Development and Alumni Relations (CUDAR) for anonymous donations. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results. Any views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the funders (including IHI-JU2). All research at the Department of Psychiatry in the University of Cambridge is supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR203312) and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Collections

University of Cambridge Research Outputs (Articles and Conferences)