Effectiveness of MBT-I in Female Offenders v.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the effectiveness of a brief, Mentalization-Based Treatment Introductory group programme (MBT-I) for female offenders, and the possible targets and mechanisms of therapeutic change: a case series.
IRAS ID
272266
Contact name
Alexandra Willis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 21 days
Research summary
A significant proportion of women involved in the criminal justice system have experienced neglect, abuse, or trauma in childhood, and female offenders are much more likely than their male counterparts to experience symptoms of a range of complex mental health difficulties such as personality disorder (PD) and complex trauma.\n \nMentalization-based treatment (MBT) is a trauma-informed psychological intervention based on the theory that disrupted attachments to caregivers during childhood (arising as a result of early neglect or abuse) lead to difficulties making sense of the emotions, thoughts, and behaviours of oneself and others, and consequently difficulties in emotion regulation and interpersonal functioning.\n\nThe aim of this project is to examine whether a brief (12-week) MBT Introductory group intervention (MBT-I) improves interpersonal functioning and global distress in a small group of female offenders, and to better understand the processes of psychological change that may accompany therapy. MBT-I groups will be facilitated by experienced therapists working within Willow, a trauma-informed service for female offenders in Edinburgh, and delivered in both HMP Edinburgh and community settings. Women referred to MBT-I and deemed eligible to take part in the group will be invited to take part in the research. If they agree, participants will complete a number of short questionnaires designed to examine their self-reported (1) interpersonal functioning; (2) psychological wellbeing; (3) maladaptive personality traits; and (4) impulsivity both before and after the intervention, and at 6 weeks’ follow-up. In order to track the potential processes of therapeutic change over time, participants will also complete weekly questionnaires for three weeks before the group starts (to establish a stable baseline), and during the 12-week programme, relating to their self-reported skills in: (1) emotion regulation; and (2) mentalization.\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
20/NS/0009
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion