ADHD and youth violence: a critical appraisal of the literature

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common childhood disorders. Diagnosed youth typically have a decreased ability to focus and an increased level of activity. Typically, this leads to diminished social development in youth. Current literature has identified violence to be a side effect of ADHD, but this body of literature has not been validated. Many gaps have also been discovered, such as gender, ethnicity and family aspects of ADHD. These areas have been neglected when assessing for violence in ADHD youth. To progress the field of research regarding ADHD and youth violence, this paper is designed as a guide to critically appraise the research that has been conducted. The purpose of this research is not to identify new strategies of violence reduction, but rather to inform policy and programs to decrease future violence associated with ADHD.