Personality disordered offenders’ experiences of completing social skills treatment
| Published date | 17 September 2018 |
| Pages | 174-185 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-11-2017-0038 |
| Date | 17 September 2018 |
| Author | Catherine Mullan,Darren Johnson,Jennifer Tomlinson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Personality disordered offenders’
experiences of completing social
skills treatment
Catherine Mullan, Darren Johnson and Jennifer Tomlinson
Abstract
Purpose –Although support exists for the effectiveness of treatment for personality disordered offenders
there is limited knowledge about the processes underlying the therapeutic change. The purpose of this paper
is to explore the treatment experiences of six male psychopathic offenders who attended a social skills
treatment component implemented within a high-secure personality disorder treatment service.
Design/methodology/approach –Interview transcripts were analysed by the lead researcher (first author)
using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) who compared and contrasted findings to develop
superordinate themes across the group. External auditing analysis was conducted by the second author.
Findings –Several themes were identified that may indicate the unique ways this client group experienced
treatment.These related to the importanceof “group cohesion”withtreatment progressionand shared learning
experiences,the significance of “therapeuti c alliance”with treatmentproviders and perceived effectiveness of
treatment, andthe conflict participants experiencedwhen acquiring and applying skillsfrom their engagement
in treatment. Participants identified aspects of the treatment component that facilitated the effectiveness of
treatment and wereeffective in meeting their needs and somethat would benefit from improvement.
Practical implications –Positive group dynamics are important. Operational staff inclusion within the
facilitation team is beneficial. Attentiveness to participants’specific responsivity needs is required. Supporting
skill application post-treatment is important.
Originality/value –These findings add to the evidence base in relation to factors that support personality
disordered offenders’engagement within treatment. Areas that validate treatment deliveryare highlighted, as
are suggestionsfor change to maximisetreatment gain for psychopathicand personality disorderedoffenders.
Keywords Psychopathy, Treatment, Social skills, Personality disorder, Group process, Group cohesion,
Therapeutic alliance, Facilitator style, Skill consolidation
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The effectiveness of treatment for personality disordered offenders has been a longstanding
contentious issue (Howells and Tennant, 2010). Whilst there is now emerging evidence providing
support of treatment effectiveness with this population (Tew et al., 2012; Wong et al., 2012;
Saradjian et al., 2013), there remains a gap in knowledge on the process that underlies this
therapeutic change (Willmot and McMurran, 2013). Developing insight into this process of
change could yield important evidence on aspects of treatment which are successful for this
distinct group of offenders.
Group process issues, such as therapist characteristics, clients’perceptions of the therapist,
therapeutic alliance and the group climate of treatment are critical to achieving treatment goals
(Marshall and Burton, 2010) and can therefore be viewed as a vehicle for effective change.
Such issues facilitate the attainment of treatment goals and indeed are reported to account for a
greater proportion of the variance in desired treatment change with offenders than the
procedures used to achieve such changes (Marshall and Burton, 2010).
Received 27 November 2017
Revised 24 April 2018
Accepted 7 June 2018
Catherine Mullan is based at
Westgate Unit (HMP
Frankland), Durham, UK.
Darren Johnson is Registered
Forensic Psychologist and
Lecturer at the Newcastle
University, Newcastle, UK.
Jennifer Tomlinson is based at
Westgate Unit (HMP
Frankland), Durham, UK.
PAGE174
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 4 NO. 3 2018, pp.174-185, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-11-2017-0038
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