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Importance of locus of control in offenders with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- RAYMOND Matthew, HAYES Susan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 5(4), 2014, pp.189-198.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Locus of control (LOC) is the manner in which one attributes their ability to make change in life. This could be through others, fate or chance (externalised), or through oneself (internalised). An internalised LOC results in greater self-belief in the ability to change one's behaviour. Non-disabled offenders with an internalised LOC are more likely to benefit from treatment through therapy and in turn have reduced rates of re-offending. The relationship between LOC and response to treatment is only understood in a limited way for offenders with intellectual disability (ID) who participate in treatment programmes. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: To better understand LOC for offenders with ID, this paper investigates its role in community-based therapy outcomes along with its use as a common pre-/post-measure of treatment success in mainstream offender populations. Drawing upon these findings information more specific to people with ID will be discussed. Findings: This paper will then explore the importance of LOC in treating offenders with ID through a review of the current published literature, which generally indicates offenders with ID demonstrate a tendency towards an external LOC in comparison with non-disabled or non-offender groups. Originality/value: Given the negative implications for treatment that external LOC may play, several significant therapeutic strategies that can contribute to development of internalised LOC are discussed, in addition to a consideration of other possible variables separate from ID that may play a role in both developing or perpetuating an external LOC. (Publisher abstract)
Staying in the here-and-now: a pilot study on the use of dialectical behaviour therapy group skills training for forensic clients with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- SAKDALAN J. A., SHAW J., COLLIER V.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(6), June 2010, pp.568-572.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This brief report describes a pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of the dialectic behaviour therapy (DBT) group skills training programme adapted particularly for offenders with intellectual disability (ID). DBT has been used in individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder who exhibit severe emotional and behavioural dysregulation but there is limited research assessing its effectiveness with forensic clients with ID. Six participants (5 male, age range 23-29 years, mean IQ=57) from Auckland completed the 13-week adapted DBT group skills training programme. All exhibited challenging behaviours and had a history of prior charges or convictions for violent crimes. Pre- and post-tests instruments were used to measure dynamic risks, relative strengths, coping skills and global functioning. Overall there were improvements across all outcome measures. The decrease in the level of risks, increase in relative strengths and general improvement in overall functioning were significant. It is concluded that the DBT group skills training programme format has potential for use as a stand alone intervention. However the small sample size and lack of control in this pilot study is noted and further longitudinal research recommended to assess whether the programme can reduce recidivism for offending in this client group.
Life Skills Group: increasing foundation knowledge and motivation in offenders with a learning disability
- Authors:
- PATTERSON Christy, THOMAS Cathy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 5(1), 2014, pp.4-13.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Offenders with a learning disability present with greater clinical need than those without a learning disability. However, for this client group, access to and engagement with psychological and criminogenic interventions are often limited. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a potentially useful approach to this issue. Design/methodology/approach: A single case study design was used to evaluate an introductory group programme, delivered over 12 weekly sessions, in a forensic learning disability service. Semi-structured interviews were used alongside psychometric measures, which were completed prior to, and following completion of, the group, in order to assess the individual's experience of the group, their emotional understanding and difficulties, and readiness to change. Findings: Readiness to change and emotional understanding improved following completion of the programme. Self-reported emotional difficulties showed improvement, although not all staff reports corroborated this. Notably, the service user reported a positive experience, with increased confidence and motivation to attend further groups. Research limitations/implications: Generalisation from the results of single case studies is limited. Although results suggest that motivation to engage further has increased, more research is required to assess whether this impacts on actual ability to engage. Practical implications: Offering an introductory programme prior to further, more criminogenically focused intervention may be more effective than offering these interventions as the first stage of treatment. Originality/value: An introductory group programme may be potentially helpful in providing the foundation knowledge, confidence and motivation necessary to attend further intervention focusing on criminogenic need for offenders with a learning disability. (Publisher abstract)
Stepping Stones – a group therapy programme for the treatment of emotion regulation difficulties in offenders with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- OXNAM Paul, GARDNER Emma
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 2(4), 2011, pp.146-151.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article presents an overview of the Stepping Stones Group Therapy Programme, based in Auckland, New Zealand. The programme is a 42-week programme that addresses the emotion regulation needs of offenders with an intellectual disability. The article discusses the process of implementing the group treatment programme in a secure forensic intellectual disability service. Since the start of the programme, there has been a reduction in both the frequency of aggression and the need for physical and chemical de-escalation. Clients have also demonstrated a greater understanding of their emotional responses and an improved ability to use functional means of managing distress and solving life problems. The article demonstrates that while implementing group therapy programmes for clients with intellectual disabilities and co-morbid emotion regulation difficulties can be challenging, treatment with this group can be successful.
Using literature as a therapeutic tool with people with moderate and borderline learning disabilities in a forensic setting
- Authors:
- COCKING Andy, ASTILL Jackie
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 32(1), March 2004, pp.16-23.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In the past, it was rare for services for people with learning disabilities to focus on meeting the emotional and personal development needs of their clients, concentrating instead on interventions that aimed to improve self-care, develop appropriate social skills and reduce challenging behaviours. Discusses the use of an art-based therapy, using literature (often termed Biblio-therapy and Poetry Therapy in published research) with a client group of men with learning disabilities who have offended, on account of their lack of literacy skills and likely lack of understanding of the use of metaphor. Describes the background to the work, the preparation of materials, the presentation of the psychotherapeutically-based group work and it's effectiveness in encouraging the development of emotional maturity and self-expression within a mixed-ability client group of young men in a high security setting.