Referrals for anger management groups: identifying suitability

Abstract

An audit of 100 referrals made to anger management groups provided by a forensic community mental health team over a four‐year period was carried out to help identify the characteristics of those who benefit from the group programme. It was hypothesised that certain factors might predominate in unsuitable referrals. Only 43 individuals actually attended the initial assessment, and 17 completed the group. Chisquare tests of association established no association between attendance and any of the variables identified. Clinical assessment suggested some differences between those who completed the groups and those who did not, but the numbers were small. Given the low completion rate and the fact that variables which characterise unsuitable referrals have not been identified, it is concluded that it may be more useful to use resources in other ways.

Using initiative to provide clinical intervention groups in prison: a process evaluation

“…Putting the completion rate in context, the 9% who completed ten sessions is lower than the 17% reported by a community forensic mental health team (Dalton, 2007). The barriers to completion of treatment in prison must be considered.…”