Jones Rene, Malouf Peter, Talbot Daniel, Elhindi James, Baker Richard, Harris Anthony
Specialty of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Justice Health Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Early Interv Psychiatry. 2025 Jan;19(1):e13560. doi: 10.1111/eip.13560. Epub 2024 May 19.
Young offenders experience higher rates of neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders than the general population, and significant access barriers to health treatment. Treatment combining Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) and Social Cognition Remediation Therapy (SCRT) has demonstrated benefits for functional improvements and social development. However, there is limited information regarding group treatment programs in custodial settings for young offenders. This pilot study explores the effectiveness and feasibility of a group treatment program for youth offenders with cognitive deficits and mental health concerns in youth detention.
The School-Link Advantage pilot study designed and tested a 10-week group treatment program combining CRT and SCRT for young offenders in custody. The closed groups incorporated interactive activities focussed on emotional recognition and regulation skills, optimizing executive functioning, understanding values, exploring belief systems, improving relationships, and safety planning.
Of the 22 male participants recruited in an Australian Youth Justice Centre, 12 completed all aspects of the treatment program, reflecting a 54.5% completion rate in a typically challenging to engage population cohort. Results demonstrated significant improvements in the ability to store and retrieve information, recognize information, and control emotions. Planning and organizing skills also showed considerable development.
This pilot study suggests that a combined CRT and SCRT group treatment program has the potential to effectively target cognitive challenges associated with mental health disorders in young offenders in custody. These promising outcomes suggest exploring randomized controlled trials with increased cultural sensitivity for diverse populations.
与普通人群相比，青少年罪犯患神经发育障碍和心理健康障碍的比例更高，且在获得医疗治疗方面存在重大障碍。认知修复疗法（CRT）和社会认知修复疗法（SCRT）相结合的治疗方法已显示出对功能改善和社会发展有益。然而，关于青少年罪犯羁押场所的团体治疗项目的信息有限。这项试点研究探讨了针对青少年拘留所中存在认知缺陷和心理健康问题的青少年罪犯的团体治疗项目的有效性和可行性。
“学校联系优势”试点研究设计并测试了一个为期10周的团体治疗项目，该项目将CRT和SCRT相结合，用于被羁押的青少年罪犯。封闭小组纳入了互动活动，重点是情绪识别和调节技能、优化执行功能、理解价值观、探索信念体系、改善人际关系和安全规划。
在澳大利亚青少年司法中心招募的22名男性参与者中，有12人完成了治疗项目的所有方面，在这个通常难以参与的人群队列中，完成率为54.5%。结果表明，在存储和检索信息、识别信息以及控制情绪的能力方面有显著改善。计划和组织技能也有了很大发展。
这项试点研究表明，CRT和SCRT相结合的团体治疗项目有可能有效解决被羁押青少年罪犯中与心理健康障碍相关的认知挑战。这些有前景的结果表明，应探索对不同人群具有更高文化敏感性的随机对照试验。
