Screening and diagnostic assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders in a male prison
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-08-2015-0018 |
| Date | 09 June 2015 |
| Published date | 09 June 2015 |
| Pages | 102-111 |
| Author | Jane McCarthy,Eddie Chaplin,Lisa Underwood,Andrew Forrester,Hannah Hayward,Jessica Sabet,Susan Young,Philip Asherson,Richard Mills,Declan Murphy |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour |
Screening and diagnostic assessment
of neurodevelopmental disorders in
a male prison
Jane McCarthy, Eddie Chaplin, Lisa Underwood, Andrew Forrester, Hannah Hayward,
Jessica Sabet, Susan Young, Philip Asherson, Richard Mills and Declan Murphy
The authors affiliations can be
found at the end of this article.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to identify neurodevelopmental disorders and difficulties (NDD) in a
male prison. The study used standardised tools to carry out screening and diagnostic assessment of the
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID).
Design/methodology/approach –The ADHD self-report scale, 20-item autism quotient and the Learning
Disability Screening Questionnaire were used to screen 240 male prisoners. Prisoners who screened positive
on one or more of these scales or self-reported a diagnosis of ADHD, ASD or ID were further assessedusing
the diagnostic interview for ADHD in adults, adapted Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the
Quick Test.
Findings –Of the 87 prisoners who screened positive for NDD and were further assessed, 70 met the
study’s diagnostic criteria for ADHD, ASD or ID. Most of those with NDD (51 per cent) had previously gone
unrecognised and a high proportion (51 per cent) were identified through staff- or self-referral to the study.
Originality/value –The study demonstrated that improving awareness and providing access to skilled,
standardised assessment within a male prison can result in increased recognition and identification of NDD.
Keywords Intellectual disability, Screening, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Diagnosis, Prison,
Autism spectrum disorder
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The DSM-5 introduced a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnostic category which brought
together conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum
disorder (ASD), communication/speech/language disorders, developmental coordination/motor/
movement disorders, intellectual disability (ID) and specific learning disorders (such as dyslexia)
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
This report focuses on three neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD, ASD and ID. These
conditions have an onset in early life and commonly occur together. For example, reports of
individuals with ASD show rates of 28-44 per cent for ADHD (Lai et al., 2014) and 20-30 per cent
of those with ID have ASD (Underwood et al., 2012). In addition to individuals with ADHD, ASD
and ID, there are those with significant traits of these conditions who do not quite meet
diagnostic criteria. This group, with broader “sub-threshold”neurodevelopmental difficulties,
may have similar vulnerabilities and needs, particularly within specific environments such
as the prison system (Talbot, 2008). The Bradley report highlighted the current lack of
Received 5 August 2015
Revised 11 October 2015
Accepted 27 October 2015
This study was funded by grants
from Guy’s and St Thomas’
Charity (Grant Reference No.
G101019) and St Andrew’s
Healthcare, Northampton, UK.
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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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VOL. 6 NO. 2 2015, pp.102-111, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-08-2015-0018
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