Pilot exploration of low-intensity psychoeducation workbook interventions in a prison setting, adapted for use throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-02-2022-0006 |
| Published date | 22 June 2022 |
| Date | 22 June 2022 |
| Pages | 46-59 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminal psychology,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
| Author | Lauren Wilson,Rebekah Dervley |
Pilot exploration of low-intensity
psychoeducation workbook interventions
in a prison setting, adapted for use
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
Lauren Wilson and Rebekah Dervley
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to explore theuse of low intensity in-cell workbooks within a psychological
therapies service formale prisoners, an intervention adapted foruse during the COVID-19 pandemic. It
seeks to explore the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing psychological distress, explore
individuals’ progression through the service following engagement with the workbooks and, finally, to
understandindividual’s experiences of the interventionthrough evaluating feedback provided.
Design/methodology/approach –CORE-10scores from 66 male prisoners at a Category C prison were
evaluated pre and post completion of an adapted in-cell workbook intervention, to explorethe potential
effectiveness of the intervention in reducing psychological distress. Qualitative feedback given by
participantswas also explored to understand individual’sexperiences of engagingwith the intervention.
Findings –Evaluation of 66 male prisonersrevealed significant reductions in psychologicaldistress on
the CORE-10.Findings demonstrated that over half of menincluded in the evaluation were ‘‘stepped-up’’
for further interventionsas per the stepped-care treatment model. Feedback forms highlightedthe value
of the therapeuticrelationship and a ‘‘somethingversus nothing’’ approach.
Research limitations/implications –The paper considersseveral limitations to the research approach,
of which futurestudies should seek to explore when carryingout similar research.
Practical implications –The paper includes implications for the use of low intensity self-help
interventions in prison psychological services, during a time when the provision of face-to-face
interventionswas limited due to the COVID-19pandemic.
Originality/value –The paperexplores the use of self-help materialsin psychological treatmentsettings,
of which there is very little research on in prisons. In addition, the paper contributes to the body of
researchon psychological well-being during the COVID-19pandemic.
Keywords Prison, Self-help, Pilot study, COVID-19, Psychological interventions, Forensic
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Numerous studies have found the prevalence of mental health difficulties amongst the
prison population to be significantlyhigher than that of the general population, with research
consistently demonstrating higher reporting rates of depression, anxiety, personality
disorders and psychosis amongst individuals in prison than their community counterparts
(Coid et al.,2002;Stewart, 2008;Fazel and Danesh, 2002). Tyler et al. (2019) provide an
updated picture of the mental health needs of UK prisoners, reporting high rates of
personality disorder, anxiety and mood disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), in addition to high rates of comorbidity. High comorbidity of mental health
difficulties in prison has been supported by the Prison Reform (2021) Trust, who found
Lauren Wilson and
Rebekah Dervley are both
based within the Forensic
and Prisons Directorate at
Oxleas NHS Foundation
Trust, Dartford, UK.
Received 18 February 2022
Revised 10 April 2022
Accepted 7 June 2022
The authors would like to thank
the efforts and contributions of
all of the Oxleas NHS
Foundation Trust practitioners
at the prison for their input into
the development and running
of the interventions and
assistance in collating data for
the service evaluation.
Disclosure statement:No
potential conflict of interest was
reported by the authors.
Funding: There were no funding
or grant-award in relation to this
paper and there are no other
financial benefits or conflicts
arising in relation to this paper.
Research & Development
Registration: The NHS Health
Research Authority’s decision
tree was consulted to
determine whether the proposal
was to be classified as
Research or as a Service
Evaluation. It was determined
that the current project was to
be classified as a Service
Evaluation. As such, it was not
required to seek NHS Research
and Ethics Committee review
and instead was registered with
the Oxleas NHS Foundation
Trust Research & Development
Office. All participants provided
informed consent for their data
to be used for the purposes of
this Service Evaluation.
PAGE 46 jJOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY jVOL. 12 NO. 3 2022, pp. 46-59, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829 DOI 10.1108/JCP-02-2022-0006
To continue reading
Request your trial