L8 Mental Health Treatment for Young Offenders Flashcards
What is an evidence based approach?
Conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients
How is offending and metal health linked?
High prevalence psychiatric disorders in young offenders
40-90% in young offenders
Psychiatric disorders are related to higher rates of recidivism
Prevention of further criminal behaviour is not the only goal of psychosocial treatments for offenders
What are the types of mental health disorders?
Mood and anxiety disorders:
- depression
- PTSD
self-harm - comorbidity, association with psychological stress
Self-harm is not a mental health disorder
What is depression and its symptoms?
5 or more in the past 2 weeks
- depressed mood
- diminished interest
- significant weight loss or gain
- insomnia
- psychomotor agitation or retardation
- fatigue or loss of energy
- thinking diminished
- recurrent thoughts of death
Symptoms must cause impairment in social, occupational areas of functioning
CBT, family therapy, group therapy
What is PTSD and its symptoms?
- delayed response
- flashbacks
- dreams or nightmares
- insomnia
- feeling numb
- avoid any reminders
- severe and persistent
Some people get it and some do not
How does trauma link to offending?
Traumatic experiences - higher rates of criminality, arrests and violent offences
Widom 1989 - experience abuse before 11 more likely to be arrested
What is self-harm?
Self-injury irrespective of motivation or suicidal intent
Co-morbid with depression and anxiety
Associated with death by suicide: 50-60% who die by suicide have previously self-harmed
Psychological predictors in self-harm status in young offenders
Group therapy, family therapy etc.
What causes increased vulnerability for mental health disorders in young offenders?
Family history of mental health
Social issues
Peer groups
Unemployment
Education
Adverse life events
Abandonment
Environmental issues
Poor housing
Deprivation
What is CBT for conduct disorder and depression?
Rohde 2004 - evaluated adolescence coping with depression
Compared CBT and life skills tutoring session
Monitored mood, increased pleasant activities, relaxation and relapse prevention
MDD recovery rates higher in CWD-A
Greater reduction in depression (CBT)
No difference in conduct disorder symptoms
Seems to be a good acute treatment, need to improve long term outcomes
Should be more specific
What is cognitive processing therapy for PTSD?
Ahrens and Rexford 2002 - Short term effects of CPT
100% males
CPT group vs control group with no treatment
CPT for symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression
CPT group significant decrease in symptoms
What is problem solving group therapy for self-harming?
Biggam and Power 2002 - vulnerable offenders
Brief group problem solving session vs control with no treatment
Significant reduction in anxiety, depression and hopelessness
What are the coping skills for general psychopathology?
Rohde 2004
CBT group intervention and Coping course intervention
Positive effects remained over time: life attitudes, self-esteem, social adjustment an cognitive therapy knowledge
What was Hunt and Perry’s 2015 systematic review?
Interventions aimed at treating depression and anxiety
Adult prisoners of any age and gender over 18
Included if participants were diagnosed with anxiety or depression
Psychological interventions helpful in short term
Exercise can help
