Cognitive-motivational, interpersonal, and behavioral functioning in relationship to treatment and research engagement in forensic patients with ADHD

Abstract

Objectives: To provide more insight into treatment and research responsivity in offenders with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Via self-reports and patients' scores on cognitive computer tasks, it was examined whether poorer cognitive-motivational, interpersonal, and behavioral functioning were related to treatment no-shows, longer treatment time duration intervals, and no-show at the research appointment in 52 forensic outpatients with ADHD (M_age = 35.3, SD = 9.38). Treatment adherence was tracked for 10 appointments after research participation.

Results: Regression analyses showed that higher self-reported impulsivity was associated with research no-show, and more alcohol use with longer treatment time intervals. Yet, self-reported delay aversion was associated with fewer treatment no-shows, and, uncontrolled for alcohol use, impulsivity was associated with shorter treatment time intervals in a subsample of patients.

Conclusions: These preliminary results indicate that externalizing behaviors increase the risk for nonadherence in forensic ADHD patients, but that cognitive-motivational problems also motivate patients to be more engaged.

Keywords: adult ADHD; forensic outpatients; research engagement; responsivity; treatment engagement.