A Substance Use Treatment Programme for Mentally Ill Forensic Patients in an Australian Setting: A Pilot Study of Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy

Daniel Mc Fadden; Emma  Barrett; Katrina  Prior

doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00348-3

A Substance Use Treatment Programme for Mentally Ill Forensic Patients in an Australian Setting: A Pilot Study of Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy

Daniel Mc Fadden, Emma Barrett , Katrina Prior

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Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of an Australian-adapted Substance Use Treatment Programme (SUTP) among mentally ill offenders in an Australian secure forensic setting. A single-group non-controlled pilot trial was conducted. Four SUTP treatment groups were run simultaneously (n = 39) with sessions held weekly over 12 weeks. Feasibility was assessed by examining attrition, study retention and motivation for treatment, and measures of therapeutic alliance, client satisfaction and qualitative interviews were used to determine acceptability. Preliminary efficacy was assessed using self-report questionnaires implemented at baseline and post intervention measuring drug related locus of control, confidence to resist substances in the
future and beliefs about substance use. Low attrition, high levels of satisfaction and moderately positive levels of therapeutic alliance were found. Participants also demonstrated a significant shift towards an internal drug related locus of control upon completion of SUTP. SUTP is a promising intervention for mentally ill offenders with a history of substance use in Australian forensic services. A randomised controlled trial is warranted to rigorously evaluate the efficacy of SUTP in this setting.

Original language	English
Number of pages	23
Journal	International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00348-3
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 12 Jul 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This project is funded by the NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) via the Mental Health Research Award and Workplace Learning Grant. A NSW Mental Health Commission Lived Experience Framework grant also supported the adaptations to ensure the programme suited an Australian forensic setting. This project would not have been possible without the participation of the NSW Forensic Hospital patients and allied health team whose dedication allowed the pilot to run seamlessly.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Forensic
Group interventions
Mental illness
Offenders
Substance use
Treatment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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A Substance Use Treatment Programme for Mentally Ill Forensic Patients in an Australian Setting: A Pilot Study of Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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