NCJ Number
196489
Journal
Criminal Behavior and Mental Health Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: 2001 Pages: 273-285
Date Published
2001
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Focusing on the social problem-solving intervention program “Stop and Think!,” in the United Kingdom, this article discusses treatment of personality disordered males in a secure psychiatric unit.
Abstract
In this article, “Stop and Think!,” a social problem-solving intervention program, is described as part of a multidisciplinary treatment approach for personality-disordered males in the United Kingdom. After introducing the importance of good problem-solving skills and problem-solving dysfunctions, the authors discuss the implementation of the “Stop and Think!” program on a dedicated 10-bed secure forensic psychiatric unit. Begun in conjunction with two structured, cognitive-behavioral interventions, controlling angry aggression and controlling substance abuse, the “Stop and Think!” program is a core element of the psychiatric unit’s treatment program. Based on the premise that personality disorder is partly a deficit in thinking skills and interpersonal functioning, the “Stop and Think!” program trains patients to orient bad feelings, define problems, set goals, generalize alternative solutions, make decisions, take action, and evaluate their decisions. Following a discussion of program staff selection, integrating “Stop and Think!” with other therapies, and how patients are monitored, the authors evaluate the program, finding that the intervention program is effective and suggesting that it will improve with additional monitoring, assessment, and evaluation. Tables, figures, references