A feasibility study of guided self-help material for male offenders v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the feasibility of a guided self-help programme for an adult male population of offenders serving a long-term prison sentence
IRAS ID
253738
Contact name
Tom McMillan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Lanarkshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 28 days
Research summary
Background: Prisoners have complex mental health needs, and there is a disproportionately higher incidence of mental health problems compared with the general population. Although research indicates that psychological interventions are effective in treating prisoners with anxiety and depression, medication is often the only treatment available in prisons. Living Life To The Full (LLTTF) is a life skills programme teaching skills to cope with life stresses, and has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression in individuals in the community.
Research Questions
•Can prison staff and prisoners be recruited to engage in the LLTTF approach?
•Is there a general trend that the programme has an effect on levels of stress, low mood, wellbeing, and number of breaches of prison rules?Participants: Adult male offenders serving a long-term prison sentence of four years or more and have at least three months remaining of their sentence in HMP Shotts, who are experiencing moderate to severe levels of distress, who are willing to attend four sessions of LLTTF, and can read and write, will be included.
Recruitment: Prisoners will be recruited from three different halls; one is a hall in which staff are motivated to engage with Psychology services, and the other two will be randomly chosen from the remaining seven halls. Posters advertising the study will be put under each cell door and placed around the halls.
Consent: The field researcher will meet prisoners interested in the study and provide the information sheet, answer questions, and obtain informed consent.
Design of study: Attendance of sessions and changes on mental health and functioning questionnaires scores will answer the research questions.
Data collection: Prisoners will complete questionnaires before starting LLTTF, at the end of intervention, and a three-month follow-up. They will be asked to review the booklets and if they could be adapted for prison.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
19/SS/0044
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion