A comparison of treatment completers and non-completers of an in-patient treatment programme for male personality-disordered offenders.
BACKGROUND
In the treatment of offenders with personality disorders, one matter that requires attention is the rate of treatment non-completion. This is important as it has cost-efficiency and negative outcome implications.


METHODS
We compared the characteristics of those who participated in a personality disorder treatment programme divided into three groups: Group 1, treatment completers (N = 21); Group 2, those expelled for rule breaking (N = 16); and Group 3, those removed because they were not engaging in treatment (N = 19). We hypothesized that, compared with the other two groups, Group 2 would score higher on the impulsive/careless style scale, and that those in Group 3 would score higher on the avoidant style scale of the social problem-solving inventory-revised (SPSI-R). Further, we hypothesized that high anxiety would be associated with treatment non-completion in both the groups.


RESULTS
These differences were not found. However, in combining both groups of non-completers for comparison, completers were shown to score significantly higher on SPSI-R rational problem solving and significantly lower on SPSI-R impulsive/careless style.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that teaching impulsive people a rational approach to social problem solving may reduce their level of non-completion.
McMurran
Mary
M
Division of Psychiatry, Section of Forensic Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. Mary.McMurran@nottingham.ac.uk
Huband
Nick
N
Duggan
Conor
C
D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data