title: A multi-site controlled trial of a cognitive skills program for mentally disordered offenders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effectiveness of offending behaviour programs in forensic mental health settings is not well established. Thus this study aimed to evaluate the Reasoning and Rehabilitation Mental Health program (R&R2 MHP) among a mentally disordered offender (MDO) population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 121 adult males drawn from 10 forensic mental health sites completed questionnaires at baseline and post-treatment to assess violent attitudes, locus of control, social problem-solving and anger. An informant measure of social and psychological functioning, including disruptive behaviour, was completed by unit staff at the same time. At three month follow-up patients completed again the violent attitudes and locus of control questionnaires. The data of 67 patients who participated in the group condition were compared with 54 waiting-list controls who received treatment as usual.
  
  
  RESULTS
  78% of group participants completed the program. In contrast to controls, significant treatment effects were found at outcome on self-reported measures of violent attitudes, rational problem-solving and anger cognitions. Improvements were endorsed by informant ratings of social and psychological functioning within the establishments. At follow-up significant treatment effects were found for both violent attitudes and locus of control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  R&R2 MHP was effective in a sample of MDOs and had a comparatively low drop-out rate. Future research should use a randomized controlled design.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Angharad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rees-Jones
authors.forename: Gisli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gudjonsson
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression; D000786:Anger; D001290:Attitude; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology