how effective is treatment for violence

Among the eight studies that measured violent recidivism, the authors found a statistically significant positive effect of violent offender treatment, with an average difference in percentage reconvicted of eight percentage points among offenders receiving the interventions relative to controls.

Full Answer

How can we reduce violence in our communities?

Learn about links between teens’ experiences with violence and their health. Talk with teens about violence and ask how you can support them. Reach out to local programs to learn effective parenting practices. Make teen mentoring, apprenticeship, and leadership programs more available.

How effective is psychological treatment in reducing violent offending and recidivism?

Overall, our results tell us that psychological treatment is effective in significantly reducing both violent offending and general / non-violent recidivism in adult violent offenders.

Can personal violence be reduced by psychosocial interventions?

Overall, it is concluded that there is sufficient evidence currently available to substantiate the claim that personal violence can be reduced by psychosocial interventions, but that much more research is required to delineate the parameters of effectiveness in this context.

What can we do to prevent teen violence?

Make use of effective social and economic policies that reduce violence. Adopt policies and practices that create safe and supportive environments. Teach teens skills to navigate social and emotional challenges.

Abstract

Psychopathy reflects a pathological form of personality that predisposes individuals to risk for perpetration of chronic and severe violence across their lifespan.

1. Introduction

Violence is a ubiquitous social problem spanning communities, countries, and continents. According to the World Health Organization's World Report on Violence and Health, violence is among the leading causes of death for people aged 15–44 ( Krug, Dahlberg, Mercy, Zwi, & Lozano, 2002 ).

2. The question (s) at hand

Much as the constructs in this domain of research have been conflated, so too may the questions that are asked and answered be conflated. It is, in fact, not a simple singular question of whether or not treatment reduces psychopathic violence, but rather a series of related questions which may be answered through a series of methodologies.

3. Conceptual definition & measurement of psychopathy

In clinical and forensic populations, the Psychopathy Checklist (PCL; Hare, 1980) and its progeny, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 2003) the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL-SV; Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995 ), the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL-YV; Forth, Kosson, & Hare, 2003 ), and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD; Frick & Hare, 2001) are the most widely used and validated measures of psychopathy ( Kiehl, 2006; Skeem & Cooke, 2010a, 2010b ).

4. Review of studies

As one might expect, most of the research conducted with violent psychopathic individuals has focused on forensic populations. However, relatively few treatment studies have been conducted and we found only two studies with general forensic populations that have looked specifically at violence outcomes.

5. Summary and conclusions

Despite strong speculations for and against the efficacy of treatment for psychopathic individuals, there is a relative dearth of research on this topic, particularly when addressing violence as an outcome.