Abstract
Purpose - This study investigated the relationship between personality disorder (PD) treatment readiness and dropout from three community based offending behaviour group programmes.
Methodology - At the pre-programme stage measures of PD and treatment readiness were administered to 186 offenders participating in either a cognitive skills programme, a general violence programme or a programme for domestically abusive men. Demographic and risk data were also obtained from the Offender Assessment System (OASys). At a one year follow up, comparisons were made between the risk, personality and treatment readiness profiles of programme completers and noncompleters.
Findings - It was hypothesized that PD would be associated with low levels of treatment readiness at the pre-group stage and that both low levels of treatment readiness and PD would predict subsequent programme non-completion. Only antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) was associated with low overall treatment readiness, although antisocial, paranoid, schizoid, negativistic and borderline traits were associated with the facet of low self-efficacy. Non-completion was not predicted by younger age or recidivism risk scores and was most strongly predicted by the presence of a Cluster A PD, as well as ASPD, low pre-group motivation and mixed race and white ethnicity.
Research Implications - Paranoid and antisocial personality pathology present important obstacles to effective offending behaviour group work in the community. This illustrates that further consideration needs to be given to these important responsivity factors in future delivery and evaluation of these programmes.
Originality/value - The study provides a detailed analysis of factors associated with non-completion of three community based OBPs in the UK.
© 2017, Emerald Publishing Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper published in The Journal of Forensic Practice, uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link below. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.
Methodology - At the pre-programme stage measures of PD and treatment readiness were administered to 186 offenders participating in either a cognitive skills programme, a general violence programme or a programme for domestically abusive men. Demographic and risk data were also obtained from the Offender Assessment System (OASys). At a one year follow up, comparisons were made between the risk, personality and treatment readiness profiles of programme completers and noncompleters.
Findings - It was hypothesized that PD would be associated with low levels of treatment readiness at the pre-group stage and that both low levels of treatment readiness and PD would predict subsequent programme non-completion. Only antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) was associated with low overall treatment readiness, although antisocial, paranoid, schizoid, negativistic and borderline traits were associated with the facet of low self-efficacy. Non-completion was not predicted by younger age or recidivism risk scores and was most strongly predicted by the presence of a Cluster A PD, as well as ASPD, low pre-group motivation and mixed race and white ethnicity.
Research Implications - Paranoid and antisocial personality pathology present important obstacles to effective offending behaviour group work in the community. This illustrates that further consideration needs to be given to these important responsivity factors in future delivery and evaluation of these programmes.
Originality/value - The study provides a detailed analysis of factors associated with non-completion of three community based OBPs in the UK.
© 2017, Emerald Publishing Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper published in The Journal of Forensic Practice, uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link below. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Forensic Practice |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Sept 2017 |
Keywords
- Personality disorder, treatment readiness, offender, treatment, attrition