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Evaluation of a cognitive skills programme for male prisoners – exploring treatment effectiveness

Jane L. Ireland (School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK) (Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK)
Jackie Bates-Gaston (Northern Ireland Prison Service, Belfast, UK)
Kevin Markey (Northern Ireland Prison Service, Belfast, UK)
Leah Greenwood (University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK) (Mersey Care NHS Trust, Lancashire, UK)
Carol A. Ireland (School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK) (CCATS Coastal Child and Adult Treatment Service, Poulton Le-Flyde, UK)

Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice

ISSN: 2056-3841

Article publication date: 5 December 2016

188

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an evaluation of a cognitive skills programme (Enhanced Thinking Skills) with adult prisoners.

Design/methodology/approach

A pre- and post-treatment design with 171 male prisoners, using self-report psychometric measures.

Findings

Significant differences were found in the direction expected. Clinical recovery using stringent methods was not indicated, although improvement/partial response was across a number of domains.

Practical implications

Expectations for treatment outcome for short-term interventions should be more realistic; cognitive skills programmes may be best considered as precursors to longer term therapies; treatment outcome should focus on improvement and not recovery.

Originality/value

This study represents the first prison study to distinguish between levels of positive change. It questions previous interpretations of treatment outcome.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not the NI Prison Service.

Citation

Ireland, J.L., Bates-Gaston, J., Markey, K., Greenwood, L. and Ireland, C.A. (2016), "Evaluation of a cognitive skills programme for male prisoners – exploring treatment effectiveness", Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 244-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-06-2016-0011

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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