The Impact of Psychopathic Traits on the Efficacy of a Substance Use Intervention
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | August 2009 |
| End Date: | July 2014 |
| Contact: | Marc T. Swogger, Ph.D. |
| Email: | marc_swogger@urmc.rochester.edu |
| Phone: | 585-275-7418 |
The Impact of Psychopathic Traits on the Efficacy of a Brief Intervention for Substance Use
Substance use among criminal offenders constitutes a major public health problem and is tied
to negative consequences for offenders, their families, and their communities. One of the
direst of these consequences is repeated incarceration; thus, interventions that reduce
criminal recidivism are needed. Forensic populations are often viewed with considerable
therapeutic pessimism. However, offenders exhibit heterogeneity in personality traits, and
the assessment of individual differences among offenders may provide valuable information
that guides the use of psychotherapeutic interventions. Among offenders, psychopathy has
emerged as an important personality construct for the understanding of violence and criminal
recidivism. Moreover, core traits of psychopathy such as lack of empathy, deceitfulness, and
lack of remorse may have negative implications for the efficacy of psychosocial
interventions. A foundational premise of the present work is that understanding the
moderating role of psychopathic traits on substance use treatment outcomes among offenders
is essential to determining what works, and for whom. The current proposal is a Phase II
randomized clinical trial that aims to examine the impact of psychopathic traits on the
efficacy of a brief substance use intervention for offenders in a jail diversion program.
Hypotheses that will be examined include: 1) that a Motivational Interviewing (MI) - based
treatment will reduce substance use and related consequences relative to a Standard Care
only condition, 2) that the reduction in substance use in the intervention group will
mediate a reduction in later criminal recidivism relative to the Standard Care condition,
and 3) that core psychopathic traits will moderate the efficacy of the intervention such
that individuals with lower levels of these traits will derive greater benefits with regard
to decreased substance use, decreased drug use consequences, and decreased criminal
recidivism at a one-year follow-up.
to negative consequences for offenders, their families, and their communities. One of the
direst of these consequences is repeated incarceration; thus, interventions that reduce
criminal recidivism are needed. Forensic populations are often viewed with considerable
therapeutic pessimism. However, offenders exhibit heterogeneity in personality traits, and
the assessment of individual differences among offenders may provide valuable information
that guides the use of psychotherapeutic interventions. Among offenders, psychopathy has
emerged as an important personality construct for the understanding of violence and criminal
recidivism. Moreover, core traits of psychopathy such as lack of empathy, deceitfulness, and
lack of remorse may have negative implications for the efficacy of psychosocial
interventions. A foundational premise of the present work is that understanding the
moderating role of psychopathic traits on substance use treatment outcomes among offenders
is essential to determining what works, and for whom. The current proposal is a Phase II
randomized clinical trial that aims to examine the impact of psychopathic traits on the
efficacy of a brief substance use intervention for offenders in a jail diversion program.
Hypotheses that will be examined include: 1) that a Motivational Interviewing (MI) - based
treatment will reduce substance use and related consequences relative to a Standard Care
only condition, 2) that the reduction in substance use in the intervention group will
mediate a reduction in later criminal recidivism relative to the Standard Care condition,
and 3) that core psychopathic traits will moderate the efficacy of the intervention such
that individuals with lower levels of these traits will derive greater benefits with regard
to decreased substance use, decreased drug use consequences, and decreased criminal
recidivism at a one-year follow-up.
Substance use among criminal offenders constitutes a major public health problem and is tied
to negative consequences for offenders, their families, and their communities. One of the
direst of these consequences is repeated incarceration; thus, interventions that reduce
criminal recidivism are needed. Forensic populations are often viewed with considerable
therapeutic pessimism. However, offenders exhibit heterogeneity in personality traits, and
the assessment of individual differences among offenders may provide valuable information
that guides the use of psychotherapeutic interventions. Among offenders, psychopathy has
emerged as an important personality construct for the understanding of violence and criminal
recidivism. Moreover, core traits of psychopathy such as lack of empathy, deceitfulness, and
lack of remorse may have negative implications for the efficacy of psychosocial
interventions. A foundational premise of the present work is that understanding the
moderating role of psychopathic traits on substance use treatment outcomes among offenders
is essential to determining what works, and for whom. The current proposal is a Phase II
randomized clinical trial that aims to examine the impact of psychopathic traits on the
efficacy of a brief substance use intervention for offenders in a jail diversion program.
Hypotheses that will be examined include: 1) that a Motivational Interviewing (MI) - based
treatment will reduce substance use and related consequences relative to a Standard Care
only condition, 2) that the reduction in substance use in the intervention group will
mediate a reduction in later criminal recidivism relative to the Standard Care condition,
and 3) that core psychopathic traits will moderate the efficacy of the intervention such
that individuals with lower levels of these traits will derive greater benefits with regard
to decreased substance use, decreased drug use consequences, and decreased criminal
recidivism at a one-year follow-up. This work has the potential to provide important data
regarding which individuals can benefit from a brief intervention for substance use. Such
data will inform the effective and efficient allocation of treatment resources for substance
using offenders.
to negative consequences for offenders, their families, and their communities. One of the
direst of these consequences is repeated incarceration; thus, interventions that reduce
criminal recidivism are needed. Forensic populations are often viewed with considerable
therapeutic pessimism. However, offenders exhibit heterogeneity in personality traits, and
the assessment of individual differences among offenders may provide valuable information
that guides the use of psychotherapeutic interventions. Among offenders, psychopathy has
emerged as an important personality construct for the understanding of violence and criminal
recidivism. Moreover, core traits of psychopathy such as lack of empathy, deceitfulness, and
lack of remorse may have negative implications for the efficacy of psychosocial
interventions. A foundational premise of the present work is that understanding the
moderating role of psychopathic traits on substance use treatment outcomes among offenders
is essential to determining what works, and for whom. The current proposal is a Phase II
randomized clinical trial that aims to examine the impact of psychopathic traits on the
efficacy of a brief substance use intervention for offenders in a jail diversion program.
Hypotheses that will be examined include: 1) that a Motivational Interviewing (MI) - based
treatment will reduce substance use and related consequences relative to a Standard Care
only condition, 2) that the reduction in substance use in the intervention group will
mediate a reduction in later criminal recidivism relative to the Standard Care condition,
and 3) that core psychopathic traits will moderate the efficacy of the intervention such
that individuals with lower levels of these traits will derive greater benefits with regard
to decreased substance use, decreased drug use consequences, and decreased criminal
recidivism at a one-year follow-up. This work has the potential to provide important data
regarding which individuals can benefit from a brief intervention for substance use. Such
data will inform the effective and efficient allocation of treatment resources for substance
using offenders.
Inclusion Criteria:
- In local pretrial services program; English speaking
Exclusion Criteria:
- Psychosis
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