Mental Health Services for Prisoners With SMI
| Status: | Active, not recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 3/10/2019 |
| Start Date: | January 3, 2019 |
| End Date: | April 2020 |
Improving Mental Health Services for Prisoners With Serious Mental Illnesses
Interventions that address criminogenic risk factors, such as Thinking for a Change (T4C),
are not used with prisoners with serious mental illness (SMI) because of the neurocognitive
and social impairments associated with SMI. This study examines the effectiveness of T4C with
a modified delivery system designed specifically to address the unique needs of persons with
SMI in prison, including improving impulsivity, criminal attitudes, and interpersonal problem
solving (treatment targets) and levels of aggression, and the amount of behavioral
infractions and time spent in administrative segregation in prison (outcomes).
are not used with prisoners with serious mental illness (SMI) because of the neurocognitive
and social impairments associated with SMI. This study examines the effectiveness of T4C with
a modified delivery system designed specifically to address the unique needs of persons with
SMI in prison, including improving impulsivity, criminal attitudes, and interpersonal problem
solving (treatment targets) and levels of aggression, and the amount of behavioral
infractions and time spent in administrative segregation in prison (outcomes).
Interventions are urgently needed to improve the delivery and impact of mental health
services for persons with serious mental illnesses (SMI) in prison. Treatments addressing the
symptoms of mental illness form a critical component of the continuum of services needed by
prisoners with SMI. However, a growing body of literature shows that mental health treatments
need to be combined with treatments that directly address criminogenic risk factors (i.e.,
those factors most closely associated with criminal activities). Despite promising evidence,
interventions that address criminogenic risk factors, such as Thinking for a Change (T4C),
are not used with prisoners with SMI because of the neurocognitive and social impairments
associated with SMI. This study examines the effectiveness of T4C with a modified delivery
system designed specifically to address the unique needs of persons with SMI in prison. This
small-scale randomized controlled trail (RCT) explores the potential effectiveness of T4C-SMI
towards improving impulsivity, criminal attitudes, and interpersonal problem solving
(treatment targets) and levels of aggression, and the amount of behavioral infractions and
time spent in administrative segregation in prison (outcomes). The study will also examine
whether the treatment targets for T4C-SMI mediate the intervention's impact on outcomes.
The long-term goal is to grow the evidence-base for interventions with the capacity to
improve prison and community-reentry outcomes for persons with SMI. This study will provide
the data needed to implement a rigorous RCT in a future study and supports NIMH's mission to
develop innovative interventions in mental health services.
services for persons with serious mental illnesses (SMI) in prison. Treatments addressing the
symptoms of mental illness form a critical component of the continuum of services needed by
prisoners with SMI. However, a growing body of literature shows that mental health treatments
need to be combined with treatments that directly address criminogenic risk factors (i.e.,
those factors most closely associated with criminal activities). Despite promising evidence,
interventions that address criminogenic risk factors, such as Thinking for a Change (T4C),
are not used with prisoners with SMI because of the neurocognitive and social impairments
associated with SMI. This study examines the effectiveness of T4C with a modified delivery
system designed specifically to address the unique needs of persons with SMI in prison. This
small-scale randomized controlled trail (RCT) explores the potential effectiveness of T4C-SMI
towards improving impulsivity, criminal attitudes, and interpersonal problem solving
(treatment targets) and levels of aggression, and the amount of behavioral infractions and
time spent in administrative segregation in prison (outcomes). The study will also examine
whether the treatment targets for T4C-SMI mediate the intervention's impact on outcomes.
The long-term goal is to grow the evidence-base for interventions with the capacity to
improve prison and community-reentry outcomes for persons with SMI. This study will provide
the data needed to implement a rigorous RCT in a future study and supports NIMH's mission to
develop innovative interventions in mental health services.
Inclusion Criteria:
- aged 18 years or older
- have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychotic disorder,
bipolar disorder with psychotic features or major depressive disorder with psychotic
features
- have moderate to high risk levels of criminogenic risk factors as determined by the
Level of Service and Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI)
- have at least one year or more remaining on their prison sentence at the time of the
screening interview
Exclusion Criteria:
- has participated in T4C-SMI within one year prior to study
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