The Efficacy of the Growing Pro-social Program in Reducing Anger, Shame, and Paranoia over Time in Male Prison Inmates

Abstract

Objectives: This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral group program, Growing Pro-Social (GPS), in reducing anger, shame, and paranoia over time in Portuguese male prison inmates. Methods: Participants were randomized to the GPS treatment ( n = 121) or control group ( n = 133). The State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Other as Shamer Scale, and the Paranoia Scale were completed at baseline, at the middle of treatment, at posttreatment, and at 12 months’ follow-up. Intervention effects were tested with latent growth curve models (LGCM). Results: At baseline, no significant differences between groups were found. Results from LGCM showed that condition was a significant predictor of change observed in all outcome measures over time. While treatment participants showed a significant increase in anger-control over time, controls presented a significant decrease over time in this same variable. For the remaining dimensions of anger, as well as for external shame and paranoia, while the treatment group showed a significant decrease over time, the control group showed a significant increase or no change. Conclusions: These results pointed out the GPS’s ability to promote significant change in cognitive and emotional relevant variables associated with antisocial behavior.

Promoting emotion and behavior regulation in male prison inmates: A secondary data analysis from a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of the growing pro-social program.

“…This RCT analyzed the program's ability to reduce the offender's cognitive malfunctioning, namely the use of cognitive distortions and the prominence of early maladaptive schemas (Brazão et al, 2015a;Brazão et al, 2017a). The impact of the GPS in variables that, from an evolutionary perspective, have been proposed as relevant variables associated with antisocial behavior, specifically anger, shame and paranoia, was also addressed by recent studies (Brazão, da Motta, Rijo, Salvador, Pinto-Gouveia, & Ramos, 2015b;Brazão, Rijo, Salvador, & Pinto-Gouveia, 2017b).…”

The Effects of the Growing Pro-Social Program on Early Maladaptive Schemas and Schema-Related Emotions in Male Young Offenders: A Nonrandomized Trial

“…The positive effects of a rehabilitation program over recidivism rates are usually presented as a major requirement for the selection of effective intervention practices (e.g., McGuire, 2013). However, a recent trend in research (e.g., Antonio & Crosset, 2017;Brazão et al, 2017Brazão et al, , 2018aBrazão et al, , 2018bBrazão et al, , 2019Skeem et al, 2009) has begun to identify and to assess other relevant variables as treatment outcome measures, namely cognitive and emotional correlates of antisocial behavior. The current study added to this new wave of research and proposed to test the effects of a cognitive-behavioral structured group intervention program in cognitive and emotional correlates of antisocial behavior.…”

“…Thus, EMSs should be identified as targets of change in rehabilitation programs for offenders (Brazão et al, 2017). Schema-focused therapy is currently being offered to offenders in forensic settings (Farrell et al, 2009; Giesen-Bloo et al, 2006; Nadort et al, 2009; van Asselt et al, 2008), and has proven to be effective in reducing schema’s endorsement, cognitive distortions, emotion regulation difficulties, and aggressive behavior (Brazão et al, 2017, 2018a, 2018b; Keulen-de Vos et al, 2013).…”

“…Nevertheless, so far, the efficacy of GPS was tested exclusively with adult samples. A randomized controlled trial testing the GPS's effects over time in a sample of male prison inmates was accomplished (Brazão et al, 2017(Brazão et al, , 2018a(Brazão et al, , 2018b(Brazão et al, , 2019. Results showed that the GPS program had positive effects on the offenders' cognitive functioning, by reducing cognitive distortions and the prominence of EMSs.…”

Personality Pathology Profiles as Moderators of the Growing Pro-Social Program: Outcomes on Cognitive, Emotion, and Behavior Regulation in Male Prison Inmates

“…The RCT on the GPS showed that the program was effective in reducing the frequency of self-reported cognitive distortions and the prominence of early maladaptive schemas, as well as anger, shame, and paranoia (Brazão, Rijo, Salvador, & Pinto-Gouveia, 2017, 2018a. The GPS has also proven to be effective in reducing emotion regulation difficulties and disciplinary infractions inside prison (Brazão et al, 2018b).…”