A Controlled, Problem-Solving, Group-Based Intervention with Vulnerable Incarcerated Young Offenders

Abstract

Recent research has indicated that vulnerable incarcerated young offenders--such as those at risk of suicidal behaviour, those on formal protection due to their inability to assimilate into mainstream, and those who are bullied but remain in normal circulation--display impoverished problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, deficits in their problem-solving skills are significantly correlated with levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a time-limited, group-based problem-solving training intervention compared with a no-treatment control for vulnerable, incarcerated young offenders. A total of 46 young offenders were equally allocated to intervention or control groups. Intervention participants experienced significant reductions in their levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness and improvement in their self-assessed social problem-solving abilities. Gains in aspects of self-assessed problem-solving ability and mental health for the intervention group continued to be evident at 3-month follow-up. Methodological concerns in this study and directions for future research are discussed.

Efficacy of a Problem-Solving Therapy for Depression and Suicide Potential in Adolescents and Young Adults

“…One might have anticipated an improvement in the post-treatment self-appraised problem-solving ability of participants who received problem-solving therapy compared to self-appraised problemsolving ability of participants in the WLC condition. Unlike findings from Nezu (1986) and Biggam and Power (2002), the current results did not confirm this anticipation. However, improvement in self-appraised problem-solving ability from baseline to follow-up was associated with lower depression (e.g., Dixon 2000) suggesting a causal relationship between problem-solving ability and depression.…”

“…The results of this empirical investigation are in line with findings from Arean et al (1993), Dowrick et al (2000), and Nezu (1986) with adults. Further, the results of this study replicate and extend the findings from Lerner and Clum 1990 with young adults and Biggam and Power (2002) with incarcerated young offenders to a sample that included high school students.…”

“…In line with this, problem solving was identified as a prevention strategy for adolescent emotional problems (Heppner et al 1984;Spence et al 2003). Empirical evidence suggests that problem-solving therapy (PST) is an effective treatment for depression (Arean et al 1993;Biggam and Power 2002;Dowrick et al 2000;Nezu 1986) and suicidal problems (Lerner and Clum 1990;Salkovskis et al (1990;Townsend et al 2001) in adults and to some extent young adults. Most recently, Malouff et al (2007) conducted a meta-analysis of 31 studies involving mostly adult participants (n = 2,895) on the effectiveness of problem-solving therapy.…”

Systematic review and meta‐analysis of interventions relevant for young offenders with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, or self‐harm

“…In one case this changed the allocation score from 'unclear' to 'adequate' (Rohde et al, 2004b) (randomisation had been carried out by a data analyst who had no contact with any of the participants in the trials). However, in one case (Biggam and Power 2002) the further information provided did not clarify the adequacy of allocation concealment.…”

Problem solving training for schizophrenia: Rationale and review

“…Since that time it has been employed as a core strategy in a wide variety of therapeutic settings. These have included marital and family therapies (Jacobson & Margolin, 1979;Falloon et al, 1984), social skills training (Brenner et al,1994;Liberman et al, 1981), the treatment of depression (Catalan et al, 1991;Nezu & Perri, 1989;Mynors-Wallace et al, 1995;Dowrick et al, 2000), generalized anxiety (Andrews et al, 1994), self-harm (Hawton & Kirk 1989;Salkovskis et al, 1990), delinquency (Biggam & Power, 2002) and borderline disorders (Linehan, 1987).…”