Recidivism in medication-noncompliant serious juvenile offenders with bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the recidivism rate varies for adolescent serious juvenile offenders with bipolar disorder in response to compliance with antimanic medication.


METHODS
Probation records were reviewed for all adolescents (N = 31) released during a 1-year period (April 1, 1993-March 31, 1994) from a county juvenile corrections treatment facility who had DSM-III-R bipolar disorder, were stabilized on medication, and had agreed to continue treatment at an adolescent psychiatry clinic. New offenses and probation violations committed during the 12-month period after release were tallied. These recidivism records were then compared with medical records to ascertain whether these acts were committed while subjects were on (taking) or off (not taking) medication.


RESULTS
The number of serious offenses (felonies and misdemeanors) was significantly reduced while subjects were on medication (4 offenses in 2992 days) versus off medication (39 offenses in 6108 days) (p < .0001). The off-medication rate of offending was 4.8 times higher than the on-medication rate. Probation violations were also significantly reduced while subjects were on medication (p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance with prescribed antimanic medication can markedly decrease recidivism in serious juvenile delinquents with bipolar disorder.
Dailey
Larry F
LF
Department of Psychiatry, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA. daile003@umn.edu
Townsend
Susan W
SW
Dysken
Maurice W
MW
Kuskowski
Michael A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*
D018692:Antimanic Agents