Evaluation of a cognitive skills programme for male prisoners – exploring treatment effectiveness

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an evaluation of a cognitive skills programme (Enhanced Thinking Skills) with adult prisoners.

Design/methodology/approach

A pre- and post-treatment design with 171 male prisoners, using self-report psychometric measures.

Findings

Significant differences were found in the direction expected. Clinical recovery using stringent methods was not indicated, although improvement/partial response was across a number of domains.

Practical implications

Expectations for treatment outcome for short-term interventions should be more realistic; cognitive skills programmes may be best considered as precursors to longer term therapies; treatment outcome should focus on improvement and not recovery.

Originality/value

This study represents the first prison study to distinguish between levels of positive change. It questions previous interpretations of treatment outcome.

Citation

Ireland, J.L., Bates-Gaston, J., Markey, K., Greenwood, L. and Ireland, C.A. (2016), "Evaluation of a cognitive skills programme for male prisoners – exploring treatment effectiveness", Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 244-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-06-2016-0011