Predictors and reasons for treatment non-completion at the Fens (V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A mixed methods approach to investigate the predictors and reasons for treatment non-completion among a personality disordered offender sample.
IRAS ID
342884
Contact name
Ellie Archdeacon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
The purpose of the application is to seek permission for a research project which aims to investigate potential predictors and reasons for treatment non-completion among a sample of high-risk male offenders with personality disorder located in a high-secure prison serving custodial sentences. The project will be a mixed methods approach comprising of one retrospective quantitative research study using existing data from clinical records in the service and one qualitative study interviewing prisoners for their experiences and motivations for treatment drop-out which will be written into two discrete research papers. The quantitative study will be based on pre-collected data on both offender characteristics (psychopathy scores and personality traits) and service characteristics (number of therapist changes and number of group cancellations) and will therefore not require new data collection. The proposed study will be the first to investigate specific personality disorder traits as predictors of treatment completion or non-completion as well as number of individual therapist changes and group therapy cancellations based on recommendations from previous literature. The qualitative study will involve semi-structured interviews with 7-12 prisoners asking for their motivations and reasons for treatment non-completion and for some, reasons for subsequent re-engagement. The proposed study will add to the small but emerging literature around treatment disengagement among personality disordered male offenders. This study will add to the current literature by being the first of its kind to investigate prisoner’s reasons and motivations for re-engagement in treatment. The research will be two short-term projects to fulfil a doctorate degree for an educational qualification and aims to be completed by the end of October 2024. The researcher (student) was currently employed by CPFT the Fens Service (where the research will take place) and is currently working on an honorary contract as a Trainee Forensic Psychologist part of the clinical team.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0407
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion