Self-injury group psychotherapy intervention for young offenders: a pilot study

ABSTRACT

Objective: Self-injury (SI) is a significant and growing problem with the prison estate and a particularly acute issue with young offenders. Despite this, there are no evidence-based interventions for Young Offenders with SI difficulties. The Self-Injury Group Psychotherapy Intervention (SIGPI) was developed to target this.

Method: Drawing on existing evidence, the group was developed and piloted on a sample of 12 male Young Offenders (mean age 19.85 years) in custody with a history of SI. Participants were measured on observable SI behaviour, SI thoughts and urges and psychological distress. A within subject design was utilised with measures at baseline, 6 months and 1 year.

Results: At 12 months follow-up, a significant reduction in SI acts, time spent on SI monitoring, severity of urges and difficulty resisting SI. Psychological distress was also reduced.

Conclusions: SIGPI could be a potentially promising intervention and further investigation into its efficacy is warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-injury
• self-harm
• group psychotherapy
• young offenders
• forensic

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the efforts and contributions of all the group facilitators and participants for their input into the development and running of the intervention.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

There were no funding or grant-award in relation to this paper and there are no other financial benefits or conflicts arising in relation to this paper.