Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Four units established in England for individuals with dangerous severe personality disorder differ significantly in their treatment regimes. Their distribution and relationship to risk are unknown. In this study, a modified Delphi process identified the treatments and allocated them to 11 mutually exclusive categories. Attendance at treatments was obtained from records, and these were compared to annual assessments of risk. Of 150 proposed treatments, 50 were allocated to the 11 categories. Only two treatment categories were provided in all units. Specified psychological treatment programmes occupied an average of less than 2 h a week, and 10% of patients had no treatment in each year. Reduction in risk was significantly associated with total hours of treatment received. A rigorous rationalisation of the treatments is needed to permit a robust evaluation of their effectiveness. Further research is needed to determine whether reductions in risk reflect reoffending rates. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/14789949.2011.577439

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology

Publication Date

01/06/2011

Volume

22

Pages

411 - 426