RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Screening-positive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms among incarcerated individuals in Paraguay : prevalence, psychological correlates, and criminological context
A1 Torales Benítez, Julio César
A1 Goncalves Possuelo, Lia
A1 Barrios Coronel, Juan Iván
A1 Estigarribia Sanabria, Gladys Mercedes
A1 Velásquez Llano, María Gisselle
A1 O’Higgins Roche, Marcelo Gerardo
A1 Castaldelli Maia, João Mauricio
A1 Ventriglio, Antonio
A1 Smith, Alexander
A1 Buadze, Ana
A1 Liebrenz, Michael
AB Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms are frequently reported among incarcerated populations and have been associated with impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and adverse mental health outcomes. Despite growing international evidence, no previous studies have examined screening-positive ADHD symptoms among prisoners in Paraguay or evaluated Spanish-language screening tools in correctional settings.Aim: To estimate the prevalence of screening-positive ADHD symptoms among incarcerated men and women in Paraguay, examine selected psychological and criminological variables, and assess the reliability and factorial structure of the Spanish version of the Symptom Check List–ADHD (SCL-ADHD).Methods: This cross-sectional study included 836 inmates (621 men, 215 women) recruited through probabilistic sampling in three Paraguayan prisons. Screening-positive ADHD status was defined as a score ≥ 12 on the nine-item SCL-ADHD derived from the SCL-90-R. Psychiatric symptoms, suicide risk, and substance-related problems were assessed using validated measures. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent correlates of screening-positive ADHD status.Results: Screening-positive ADHD status was observed in 33.4% of participants, with higher prevalence among women than men (39.1% vs. 31.4%; OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.02–1.93, p = 0.04). Screening-positive ADHD was independently associated with suicide risk (OR = 3.85, p < 0.001) and elevated SCL-90-R dimensions of hostility, anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Sensitivity analyses using continuous symptom scores showed associations with hostility, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms remained, whereas association with depression attenuated. No significant independent associations were observed with criminological variables. The Spanish SCL-ADHD demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.76) and a coherent symptom structure.Conclusion: Screening-positive ADHD symptoms were common among incarcerated individuals in Paraguay, particularly women, and were associated with concurrent emotional dysregulation and suicidality. These findings reflect screening-based symptom burden rather than confirmed adult ADHD diagnoses and highlight the potential utility of systematic ADHD screening within correctional mental health services.
PB Frontiers Media S.A.
YR 2026
FD 2026-04-15
LK http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14066/4777
UL http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14066/4777
LA eng
NO Torales, J., Goncalves Possuelo, L., Barrios, I., Estigarribia, G., Velázquez, G., O’Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., Ventriglio, A., Smith, A., Buadze, A., & Liebrenz, M. (2026). Screening-positive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms among incarcerated individuals in Paraguay: prevalence, psychological correlates, and criminological context. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 17, 1752901. 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1752901
NO Correspondence: Michael Liebrenz, michael.liebrenz@unibe.ch.
NO El documento forma parte de la sección especializada Forensic Psychiatry.
NO Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
DS MINDS@UW
RD 03-sep-2026