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Support for the predictive validity of the Multifactor Offender Readiness Model (MORM): forensic patients’ readiness and engagement with therapeutic groups

Alemohammad, Mehdi, Wood, Jane L., Tapp, James, Moore, Estelle, Skelly, Alan (2016) Support for the predictive validity of the Multifactor Offender Readiness Model (MORM): forensic patients’ readiness and engagement with therapeutic groups. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 27 (5). pp. 421-442. ISSN 0957-9664. E-ISSN 1471-2857. (doi:10.1002/cbm.2008) (KAR id:57801)

Abstract

Background Treatment non-engagement in forensic settings has ethical and economic implications. The Multifactor Offender Readiness Model (MORM) proposes a framework for assessing treatment readiness across person, programme and contexts.

Research question: Are the internal factors of the MORM associated with whether forensic patients engage, complete, refuse or drop out of groupwork interventions?

Method: In a retrospective design, associations between internal factors of the MORM, measured as part of assessment for group participation, and the outcomes of treatment refusal, treatment dropout and treatment completion were investigated.

Results: 118 male high security hospital patients consecutively referred for group treatment agreed to participate. Internal factors of the MORM associated with treatment refusals included: psychopathic cognition, negative self-evaluation/affect and effective goal seeking strategies. Those associated with dropouts included emotional dysregulation, low competencies to engage and low levels of general distress. MORM factors associated with completion included: low motivation, ineffective goal seeking strategies, absence of psychopathic cognition, high levels of general distress and competency to engage.

Conclusions: Internal factors of the MORM could be useful contributors to decisions about treatment readiness for hospitalised male offender-patients. Up to one in three programmes offered were refused, so clinical use of the MORM to aid referral decisions could optimise the most constructive use of resources for every individual.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/cbm.2008
Uncontrolled keywords: Forensic patients, Engagement, Attrition, Treatment Readiness, Group therapy, Multifactor Offender Readiness Model (MORM)
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental health
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Jane Wood
Date Deposited: 07 Oct 2016 09:25 UTC
Last Modified: 10 Dec 2022 05:04 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/57801 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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