title: Childhood ADHD symptoms are associated with lifetime and current illicit substance-use disorders and in-site health risk behaviors in a representative sample of Latino prison inmates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore retrospective childhood ADHD symptomatology, psychiatric comorbidity, rates of substance-use disorders (SUD), as well as their association with high-risk health behaviors in prison and adverse health outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomly selected representative sample of inmates in the Puerto Rico correctional system (N = 1,179) was assessed with the Spanish-language Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS); the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) modules for lifetime/current major depression disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and SUD; the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS; posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]); and self-reports of in-site high-risk behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wald χ(2) tests revealed significant associations of ADHD with MDD and PTSD, as well as increased risk for overdosing and intravenous drug use in prison. A logistic regression model adjusted for mood and anxiety comorbidity predicted lifetime SUD diagnosis (odds ratio = 2.38; 95% confidence interval = [1.15, 4.94]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide further evidence on the association of drug dependence and ADHD symptoms, and their overrepresentation among prison inmates.
authors.affiliation: Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico rafael.gonzalez24@upr.edu.
authors.forename: Rafael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Carlos Albizu University, San Juan, PR, USA.
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vélez-Pastrana
authors.affiliation: Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: José J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz Varcárcel
authors.affiliation: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA New York State Psychiatric Institute, USA.
authors.forename: Frances R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.affiliation: Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Carmen E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Albizu-García
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult