@article{ref1,
title="The Violence Reduction Programme: an exploration of posttreatment risk reduction in a specialist medium-secure unit",
journal="Criminal behaviour and mental health",
year="2019",
author="Horgan, Harry and Charteris, Chloe and Ambrose, Derval",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence for treatment programmes for offenders with a diagnosis of personality disorder deemed to be of high risk of violence towards others. <br><br>AIM: This study sought to evaluate change in clinician-rated risk of violence in males among offenders accepted to a specialist medium-secure hospital providing treatment based on the Violence Reduction Programme (VRP). <br><br>METHOD: A retrospective, records-based cohort study design was used to explore change in risk of violence in a sample including five VRP cohorts composed of 33 offenders. Violence risk scale (VRS) score was the primary outcome measure. Correlates of treatment dropout were also explored. <br><br>RESULTS: Twenty-seven men completed treatment. Paired pretreatment and posttreatment VRS scores were available for 19 men. Six men disengaged with treatment. There was a significant mean reduction in risk of violence score (d = 1.08). At the individual level, eleven (57%) participants in the VRP showed reliable reduction in risk of violence. No treatment completers with a complete rating pair demonstrated an increased risk of violence. Younger age and referral from prison were significantly associated with treatment dropout. <br><br>CONCLUSION: VRP-based treatment appears to be a promising intervention for specialist services for offenders with a personality disorder diagnosis in the United Kingdom. Longer term follow-up to ascertain whether these apparent treatment gains are accompanied by actual reduction in violent recidivism is now required, and a full scale trial warranted.<br><br>© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0957-9664",
doi="10.1002/cbm.2123",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2123"
}