A forensic peer group approach to bullying after traumatic brain injury

Abstract

A forensic peer group programme adapted for bullying behaviour and antisocial attitudes in three young men with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is presented. Three TBI clients who had previously been resistant to an intensive neurobehavioural rehabilitation residential programme were enrolled into the EQUIP programme. EQUIP focused on teaching pro-social skills as they related to aggression, increasing moral development, and altering pro-aggressive attitudes. The group ran four days per week over six weeks, with each session lasting 30 minutes. Post-group assessment indicated that two of the three participants altered their beliefs regarding antisocial behaviour. At three-month follow up, of the two who demonstrated change one had returned to baseline while the other had maintained his progress. Aggression and bullying behaviour reduced in all three clients during the EQUIP programme and these improvements were maintained at three-month follow up. Self-esteem measures did not alter across the assessment period. Antisocial beliefs and their potential for change in clients with severe TBI are discussed.