MDOs’ experience of offence-related PTSD - Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mentally disordered violent offenders’ experience of offence-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Considerations for diagnosis and treatment.
IRAS ID
149154
Contact name
Jocelyn Fleming
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway, University of London
Research summary
Objectives
The study aims to explore how mentally disordered offenders experience offence-related post-traumatic symptoms, and whether Ehlers and Clark’s (2000) cognitive model of PTSD facilitates an understanding of these experiences.Research questions
1) How does a small sample of violent offenders experience offence-related post-traumatic symptoms?
2) How are these experiences similar or different to PTSD diagnostic criteria?
3) How are experiences similar or different from the processes described in Ehlers and Clark’s (2000) cognitive model of PTSD?Methods
An exploratory, phenomenological approach will be used to investigate offence-related PTSD in an all male sample of 6-10 convicted violent offenders aged 18-65. The sample will be recruited by referral and assessed using standardised measures of PTSD (the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R)). The PDS will be used to identify all traumatic incidents over the lifespan and any presenting trauma symptoms related to these. The IES-R will then ask participants to specifically consider symptoms related to the offence they find most distressing (not necessarily their index offence). Those meeting inclusion criteria will be invited to participate in a semi-structured interview exploring their experiences of offence-related symptoms, cognitive appraisals of the trauma and its sequelae, coping strategies, and trauma memory.Results
Data will be analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). No hypothesis has been made. Results may indicate that experiences are similar to those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and can be understood using a
cognitive model. Alternatively, where differences are highlighted, further research will be encouraged to develop a model for offence-related PTSD.Implications
Determining the suitability of DSM-V diagnosis and treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) will enable clinicians to effectively assess, formulate and treat mentally disordered offenders, potentially resulting in more successful rehabilitation and improved mental health outcomes.REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0537
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion