Impact of schema therapy on narratives in secure settings
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of schema therapy on narratives of individuals in secure settings
IRAS ID
128148
Contact name
Irram Walji
Contact email
Research summary
Schema therapy has been shown to be an effective psychotherapeutic intervention for individuals who present with chronic psychological distress, and who are often given a diagnosis of ‘personality disorder’. Forensic populations have a high prevalence of individuals with such interpersonal difficulties, and research indicates these individuals are more likely to reoffend after leaving secure hospitals. Increasingly, schema therapy is also being implemented in forensic settings and preliminary outcome data is encouraging.
This research aims to explore whether engaging in schema therapy has an impact on the personal narratives of individuals with a history of violent offending, by considering how individuals make sense of their life stories, their understanding of their previous offending behaviour, and where schema therapy fits with that understanding. Focussing this research on individuals in secure settings would highlight stories that are seldom heard but which are important for the further development of best practice of schema therapy with forensic populations.
The researcher hopes to recruit 5-10 participants from a medium secure unit, who have engaged in schema therapy for at least twelve months. As this is a qualitative study, a flexible semi-structured interview style will be used. Participants may be asked to take part in up to three interviews, lasting 1-2 hours in total with breaks as appropriate. Narrative analysis will then be conducted on transcriptions of interview audio-recordings.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0558
Date of REC Opinion
26 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion