Abstract
Background: Retention of participants to programs of psychological therapy in a prison setting is problematic. Intensively delivered therapy has emerged in recent years, in contrast to the traditional format of weekly sessions of psychological therapy.
Method: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an intensive program of cognitive behavior suicide prevention therapy within a male prison, for the first time. Thirteen participants consented to take part. Up to 10 h of therapy was offered, across five sessions, within a 3-week delivery window. Outcome measures were completed at baseline and follow-up.
Results: Program completion and client satisfaction with the intensive program were high. Outcomes related to suicidal distress were assessed, with effect sizes reported. Large and statistically significant effect sizes were found for suicidal ideation and emotional regulation when comparing baseline to followup. Small and non-significant effects were found for social support and problem solving when comparing the same.
Conclusion: The study holds promise for the feasibility and efficacy of delivering an intensive cognitive behavior suicide prevention therapy for people in prison. Further exploration on a larger scale is warranted [Clinical Trial ID: NCT03499548].
Method: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an intensive program of cognitive behavior suicide prevention therapy within a male prison, for the first time. Thirteen participants consented to take part. Up to 10 h of therapy was offered, across five sessions, within a 3-week delivery window. Outcome measures were completed at baseline and follow-up.
Results: Program completion and client satisfaction with the intensive program were high. Outcomes related to suicidal distress were assessed, with effect sizes reported. Large and statistically significant effect sizes were found for suicidal ideation and emotional regulation when comparing baseline to followup. Small and non-significant effects were found for social support and problem solving when comparing the same.
Conclusion: The study holds promise for the feasibility and efficacy of delivering an intensive cognitive behavior suicide prevention therapy for people in prison. Further exploration on a larger scale is warranted [Clinical Trial ID: NCT03499548].
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 93-122 |
| Number of pages | 31 |
| Journal | Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 May 2022 |
Keywords
- Suicide ideation
- cognitive strategies
- male criminal offenders
- prison
