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14 Psych., Crime & L. 1 (2008)

handle is hein.journals/pcyceadl14 and id is 1 raw text is: Psychology, Crime & Law, January 2008; 14(1): 1-18 Ry Francsgroup Aggression Control Therapy for violent forensic psychiatric patients: First results RUUD H. J. HORNSVELD1'2, HENK L. I. NIJMAN2'3, & FLOOR W. KRAAIMAAT' 'Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, 2De Kijvelanden Forensic Psychiatric Centre, Poortugaal, the Netherlands, and 3Academic Centre for Social Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Received in final form 15 March 2007) Abstract Aggression Control Therapy (ACT), a treatment programme developed in the Netherlands for violent forensic psychiatric patients with a conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder, was investigated in two studies. In the first study, the personality traits and problem behaviours of these patients and a normative Dutch population were compared, and then the traits and behaviours of patients who completed the ACT were compared with those who dropped out. In the second study, the ACT was evaluated by comparing pre-treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up data. Two control conditions were added: a waiting-list period for outpatients and a control group for inpatients. The patients who received ACT were psychologically unstable, egoistic, and prone to anger. They reported little social anxiety when exhibiting limit-setting behaviour (e.g. giving criticism) but tended to avoid approaching behaviour (e.g. giving a compliment). Results suggested that ACT diminished aggressive behaviour but did not change socially competent behaviour. The limitations of the two studies are mentioned and suggestions for further research into the effects of ACT are presented. Keywords: Forensic psychiatry, violence, personality traits, Aggression Control Therapy, treatment effect Introduction Although various institutions in the Netherlands have started implementing treatment programmes for violent forensic psychiatric patients, little is known about the character- istics of these patients and the results of these programmes. The term violence is used here to refer to aggressive behaviour that is intended to injure someone psychologically and physically (Berkowitz, 1993), but especially physically (Browne & Howells, 1996). In the Netherlands, forensic psychiatric patients are offenders for whom a judge has established, on the basis of information provided by a psychiatrist and/or psychologist, a connection between a deficient mental development or mental disorder' and the crime committed. Without treatment, the risk of recidivism is high. Correspondence: Ruud H. J. Hornsveld, Lange Dreef 52, 2285 LA, Rijswijk, The Netherlands. E-mail: r.hornsveld(altiscali.nl ISSN 1068-316X print/ISSN 1477-2744 online © 2008 Taylor & Francis DOT: 10.1080/10683160701340569

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