Integrating treatment for offenders with an intellectual disability and personality disorder

Nonpharmacological treatment for individuals with intellectual disability and "personality disorder"

BACKGROUND

Research exploring nonpharmacological interventions for individuals with intellectual disability and personality disorder was reviewed. This should prove valuable to services and professionals contemplating how to offer interventions for these individuals.

METHOD

A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted. Articles were considered for inclusion according to criteria based on the PICOS model. The quality of the research was assessed utilizing the evaluative method for determining evidence-based practice.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were reviewed with quality assessment indicating that all provided weak research evidence. Consistent flaws included insufficient description of participants and lack of control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The research base exploring nonpharmacological interventions for individuals with intellectual disabilities and personality disorder includes many methodological flaws but reveals some useful information regarding the characteristics of these individuals and components of interventions to support them. Further research is needed to identify the differential effectiveness of interventions over and above other confounding factors.

Perceptions of therapeutic principles in a therapeutic community

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore staff and service users’ perceptions of therapeutic principles within a unique male high secure learning disability therapeutic community (LDTC).

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was adopted using deductive content analysis and inductive thematic analysis. In total, 12 participants took part in a semi-structured interview to explore their perceptions of Haigh’s (2013) quintessence principles and any further additional therapeutic features in the environment not captured by the theory.

Findings

All five quintessence principles were identified in the LDTC environment. Some limits to the principle of “agency” were highlighted, with specific reference to difficulties implementing a flattened hierarchy in a forensic setting. Additional therapeutic features were identified including; security and risk, responsivity, and more physical freedom which appear to aid implementation of the quintessence principles.

Research limitations/implications

The study was performed within a single case study design. Therefore, results remain specific to this LDTC. However, the finding of these principles in such a unique setting may indicate Haigh’s (2013) quintessence principles are evident in other TC environments.

Originality/value

This is the first research paper that has attempted to test whether Haigh’s (2013) quintessence principles are evident within a given therapeutic community. The research provides empirical evidence for the quintessence principles in a novel TC setting and suggests recommendations for future research.