Association between mental health disorders and juveniles' detention for a personal crime

Background: Youth involved with juvenile courts often suffer from mental health difficulties and disorders, and these mental health disorders have often been a factor leading to the youth's delinquent behaviours and activities. Method: The present study of a sample population (N=341), randomly drawn from one urban US county's juvenile court delinquent population, investigated which specific mental health disorders predicted detention for committing a personal crime. Results: Youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder diagnoses were significantly less likely to commit personal crimes and experience subsequent detention, while youth with bipolar diagnoses were significantly more likely. Conclusion: Co-ordinated youth policy efforts leading to early identification and treatment of bipolar disorder symptoms may be necessary. © 2010 The Authors. Child and Adolescent Mental Health © 2010 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.