title: A Prospective Study of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Recidivism Among Repeat DUI Offenders.
abstract: Psychiatric comorbidity has emerged as a key element distinguishing DUI offenders from others, and, in some cases, distinguishing repeat offenders from first-time offenders. This paper utilizes a prospective design to determine whether the comorbid disorders identified among repeat DUI offenders can predict recidivism. Seven hundred forty-three repeat DUI offenders were recruited from a two-week inpatient treatment program at which they received a standardized mental health assessment and followed across five years post-treatment to track DUI offense, motor vehicle-related offenses, and general criminal offenses. Psychiatric comorbidity, though it did not predict DUI recidivism specifically, predicted criminal re-offense more generally. In addition, there was a specific relationship between lifetime attention deficit disorder and repeated motor vehicle-related offenses. These findings suggest that for many repeat offenders, DUI is one outlet in a constellation of criminal behavior, and that psychiatric comorbidity increases vulnerability for criminal re-offense.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School ; Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belkin
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School ; Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance.
authors.forename: Debi A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: LaPlante
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bosworth
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School ; Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance.
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shaffer
keywords: alcohol; comorbidity; driving under the influence; impaired driving; mental health; prospective; recidivism