A 30-year prospective follow-up study of hyperactive boys with conduct problems: adult criminality.

Objective: To compare the official arrest records for a large number of hyperactive boys (N = 179), most with conduct problems, and 75 control boys; to examine childhood IQ, socioeconomic status, and parent reports of childhood hyperactivity and conduct problems for their contribution to criminal behavior in adulthood; and to compare adult outcome for multimodality-treated (MMT) and drug-treated-only (DTO) hyperactives.

Method: We report on the official arrest history from early to mid- (18 to 38 years of age) adulthood in these 254 white subjects.

Results: Ninety one percent of subjects were followed up.