Treatment of aggression in violent offenders Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Conditions
Interventions
The study will describe and evaluate the treatment program VRAPT in an interventional pilot study within the Swedish prison and probation service (SPPS) - prison setting - targeting violent offenders
Sponsors
Swedish Prison and Probation Services
Region Kronoberg
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Offenders who are: 1. Sentenced to prison at the sites for the study 2. Have been assessed with an increased risk of recidivism in violent crimes (medium to high risk) 3. Indications of a need for treatment of aggression problems (identified through screening for study inclusion)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Inability to understand and provide informed consent 2. Major deficits in understanding the Swedish language preventing active participation 3. Epilepsy 4. Indications of acute psychotic state 5. Intellectual disabilities (IQ <70) 6. Suicide risk 7. Current and serious security risks that prevent participation in a safe way 8. Less than 10 weeks remaining time at the prison The criteria are set for the study to be conducted in a safe way for offenders, staff, and researchers. For those offenders who are excluded from participation, the violence prevention interventions offered in their regular care will continue as usual.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Aggression is measured using Aggression Questionnaire-Revised Swedish Version (AQ-R): self-assessment of aggression and hostile behavior, at pre-, (T1), post-, (T2) and follow-up (T3) 2. Emotion dysregulation is measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS): self-assessment of emotion recognition and emotion regulation strategies, at pre-, (T1), post-, (T2) and follow-up (T3) 3. Anger is measured using State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2-S (STAXI-2S): self-assessment of aggression, both current and in habitual state, at pre-, (T1), post-, (T2) and follow-up (T3) T1: Before start of VRAPT; T2:Directly after VRAPT; T3: 3 months follow up | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary measures are targeting potential confounders on the primary outcome and use both file data from SPPS file registers and self-assessment data: 1. Mental illness and psychiatric disorders measured using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) at (T1) 2. Lifelong externalizing behaviors measured using the Externalizing Spectrum Inventory-Brief Form (ESI-BF) at (T1) 3. Procriminal attitudes measured using Measures of Criminal Attitudes and Associates (MCAA) at (T1) 4. Childhood trauma measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) at (T1) Other secondary measures are: 5. Participant experiences of virtual reality measured using the I-group presence questionnaire (IPQ) at (T2). Note that the version used in the current study is revised specifically based on the needs of the current study and so as not to burden the clients with unnecessary questions. T1: Before start of VRAPT; T2:Directly after VRAPT; T3: 3 months follow up | — |
Countries
Sweden
Contacts
Public ContactDavid Ivarsson
Outcome results
None listed