Volume 37, Issue 7 pp. 1171-1179
Original Article

Does diagnosis affect the predictive accuracy of risk assessment tools for juvenile offenders: Conduct Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Dinesh Khanna

Dinesh Khanna

Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Kinta Annex, Helme Close, Kendal, UK

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Jenny Shaw

Jenny Shaw

Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Room 2.315, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK

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Mairead Dolan

Mairead Dolan

Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

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Charlotte Lennox

Corresponding Author

Charlotte Lennox

Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Room 2.315, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK

Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 161 306 8014; fax: +44 161 275 0716.Search for more papers by this author
First published: 28 August 2014
Citations: 8

ABSTRACT

Studies have suggested an increased risk of criminality in juveniles if they suffer from co-morbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) along with Conduct Disorder. The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY), the Psychopathy Checklist Youth Version (PCL:YV), and Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) have been shown to be good predictors of violent and non-violent re-offending. The aim was to compare the accuracy of these tools to predict violent and non-violent re-offending in young people with co-morbid ADHD and Conduct Disorder and Conduct Disorder only. The sample included 109 White-British adolescent males in secure settings. Results revealed no significant differences between the groups for re-offending. SAVRY factors had better predictive values than PCL:YV or YLS/CMI. Tools generally had better predictive values for the Conduct Disorder only group than the co-morbid group. Possible reasons for these findings have been discussed along with limitations of the study.

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