title: Using initiative to provide clinical intervention groups in prison: a process evaluation.
abstract: We present a process evaluation of a new anger control intervention within an urban remand prison in London, UK. An anger control group was created and run as an extension of the prison in-reach healthcare team, in order to meet the needs of prisoners. We evaluate the aims of the intervention, therapeutic methodology, administrative process, and post-intervention outcomes. We report change in anger scores (State Trait Anger Expression Inventory; STAXI-II), showing how a service of this type might deliver important benefits. Through the use of a focus group with the clinicians who ran the service, we have reflected on this process to inform the evaluation. We conclude that anger management may have a useful role in remand prisons, not just for violent offenders, but as part of a wider public health agenda. Resources for new prison healthcare groups are scarce, particularly in urban remand prisons, and clinicians may have to collaborate with other teams to provide a range of interventions. Following the expressed needs of the prisoner population promotes a strong uptake of clients. Prison health services operate within a complex and environment which restricts healthcare teams' ability to run groups. We provide recommendations on overcoming potential barriers to care.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London. georgia.black@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilks
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riaz
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons / Q000458:organization & administration; D011581:Psychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult