Assessing the Potential Efficacy of an Intervention for Incarcerated People With Mental Illness

OBJECTIVE: This preliminary study tested the efficacy of an evidence-based correctional intervention (Thinking for a Change) with an adapted delivery to incarcerated people with mental illness. METHODS: A small-scale randomized controlled trial (N=47 men) was conducted. Outcomes were changes in aggression, number of behavioral infractions, and days in administrative segregation. Treatment targets were impulsivity, interpersonal problem-solving skills, and attitudes supportive of crime. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine within-person and between-group differences over time, and nonparametric tests were used to examine between-group differences in criminal legal outcomes postintervention. RESULTS: Statistically significant within-person differences were found for all treatment targets and for one study outcome (aggression). Statistically significant differences in impulsivity were found between the experimental and control groups (B=-7.10, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Existing evidence-based correctional interventions can affect the lives of people with mental illness. Accelerated research in this area may benefit people with mental illness at high risk for criminal legal system involvement.