The results suggest a potential for DBT to impact positively and lastingly on violent behaviour and components of anger in male forensic patients when compared with standard treatment. The power of the current study to detect group differences was reduced by small ns, large confidence intervals, and a non-contemporaneous comparison group. Cost-effective strategies are proposed to take forward research on DBT with this population.

We report two studies examining the effects of nicotine on memory in minimally deprived smokers. In experiment 1, semantically related words were recalled significantly better than unrelated words following nicotine, even when volunteers were explicitly instructed to target the unrelated word set for recall. Experiment 2 examined the effect of nicotine on two different types of lexical association: association by joint category membership (semantically related items), and association by derived meaning ("encapsulated" word pairs). Nicotine-induced improvements in recall were observed only for category associates and not for encapsulated word pairs. This implies that explicit, effortful processing of material in the presence of nicotine is necessary for improved recall performance to be observed.

Treatment and rehabilitation in forensic settings have been largely based on cognitive behavioural models and therapies. In the past decade, "third wave" approaches have developed in cognitive behavioural therapy, strongly influenced by spiritual and contemplative traditions such as Buddhism. Mindfulness is the most analysed and researched of such approaches. In this paper, we ask whether mindfulness is relevant to therapeutic work with offenders in forensic mental health and criminal justice services. We review the known criminogenic and other needs of offender groups and discuss whether the psychological processes affected by mindfulness are relevant to reducing risk, alleviating distress and facilitating coping. We conclude that they are. Finally, we address some of the problems that may arise in implementing mindfulness interventions in forensic settings.

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Recent political initiatives in England and Wales have increased the focus on providing clinical services for personality disordered individuals. Increased attention on those identified as having dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD) has led to the piloting of specialist services to trial new assessments and interventions for the DSPD group in both health and prison settings. This article outlines the development and provision of clinical services for those within The Peaks, the DSPD pilot service within Rampton Hospital. The Peaks, the first new-build health-based unit, aims to provide a comprehensive service specifically focused on addressing the full range of clinical and criminogenic needs of those within the DSPD group. The philosophical underpinnings of the unit and the practical components of the service provided are described.