Dataset Information

Assessing vulnerability to risk of suicide and self-harm in prisoners: a Rasch analysis of the suicide concerns for offenders in the prison environment (SCOPE-2).

ABSTRACT:

Background

With increasing levels of suicide and self-harm behaviour in the criminal justice system professionals would benefit from a tool that can identify individuals who may be at risk of self-harm and/or suicidal behaviour.

Method

The Suicide Concerns for Offenders in the Prison Environment (SCOPE) tool was originally devised and validated in six UK prisons between 2003 and 2004. The goal of this study is to re-evaluate the SCOPE using Rasch methodology to produce a psychometrically robust instrument. Data were presented from 1051 SCOPE assessments of male and female offenders.

Results

The analysis produced a revised SCOPE-2 tool reducing the tool from a 27 to a 19 items and simplifying the categorical six point scale to a four item scale.

Conclusions

Further validation of the new SCOPE-2 tool is required in samples of male and female prisoners to assess different cut-off points for clinical and policy use.

SUBMITTER: Perry AE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7161173 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Assessing vulnerability to risk of suicide and self-harm in prisoners: a Rasch analysis of the suicide concerns for offenders in the prison environment (SCOPE-2).

Perry Amanda E AE Horton Mike M

BMC psychiatry 20200415 1

<h4>Background</h4>With increasing levels of suicide and self-harm behaviour in the criminal justice system professionals would benefit from a tool that can identify individuals who may be at risk of self-harm and/or suicidal behaviour.<h4>Method</h4>The Suicide Concerns for Offenders in the Prison Environment (SCOPE) tool was originally devised and validated in six UK prisons between 2003 and 2004. The goal of this study is to re-evaluate the SCOPE using Rasch methodology to produce a psychomet ...[more]

PMID: 32295553

Similar Datasets

Project description:Screening for vulnerability factors associated with historic suicidality and self-harm on entry to prison is critical to help prisons understand how to allocate extremely limited mental health resources. It has been established that having previous suicide attempts increases odds of future suicidality and self-harm in prison. We utilised administrative screening data from 665 adult male prisoners on entry to a category B prison in Wales, UK, collected using the Do-IT Profiler. This sample represents 16% of all prisoners who entered that prison during a 26-month period. 12% of prisoners reported a history of attempted suicide, 11% reported historic self-harm, and 8% reported a history of both. Historic traumatic brain injury and substance use problems were associated with a 3.3- and 1.9- times increased odds of a historic suicide attempt, respectively, but no significant increased risk of historic self-harm (95% CI: 1.51-6.60 and 1.02-3.50). However, those who were bullied at school had 2.7 times increased odds of reporting a history of self-harm (95% CI: 1.63-6.09). The most salient risk factors associated with both historic suicide and self-harm were higher levels of functional neurodisability (odds ratio 0.6 for a 1 standard deviation change in score, 95% CI: 0.35-0.75), and mood disturbance (odds ratio 2.1 for a 1 standard deviation change in score, 95% CI: 1.26-3.56). Therefore, it could be beneficial for prisons to screen for broader profiles of needs, to better understand how to provide appropriate services to prisoners vulnerable to suicide and self-harm. Multidisciplinary care pathways for prisoner mental health interventions are important, to account for complex multimorbidity. Adaptations may be needed for mental health interventions to be appropriate for, for example, a prisoner with a brain injury. Understanding this broad profile of vulnerability could also contribute to more compassionate responses to suicide and self-harm from prison staff.

Project description:ObjectivesProblem-solving skills training is adaptable, inexpensive and simple to deliver. However, its application with prisoners who self-harm is unknown. The study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a problem-solving training (PST) intervention for prison staff and prisoners who self-harm, to inform the design of a large-scale study.Design and settingA mixed-methods design used routinely collected data, individual outcome measures, an economic protocol and qualitative interviews at four prisons in Yorkshire and Humber, UK.Participants(i) Front-line prison staff, (ii) male and female prisoners with an episode of self-harm in the previous 2 weeks.InterventionThe intervention comprised a 1 hour staff training session and a 30 min prisoner session using adapted workbooks and case studies.OutcomesWe assessed the study processes-coverage of training; recruitment and retention rates and adequacy of intervention delivery-and available data (completeness of outcome data, integrity of routinely collected data and access to the National Health Service (NHS) resource information). Prisoner outcomes assessed incidence of self-harm, quality of life and depression at baseline and at follow-up. Qualitative findings are presented elsewhere.ResultsRecruitment was higher than anticipated for staff n=280, but lower for prisoners, n=48. Retention was good with 43/48 (89%) prisoners completing the intervention, at follow-up we collected individual outcome data for 34/48 (71%) of prisoners. Access to routinely collected data was inconsistent. Prisoners were frequent users of NHS healthcare. The additional cost of training and intervention delivery was deemed minimal in comparison to 'treatment as usual'. Outcome measures of self-harm, quality of life and depression were found to be acceptable.ConclusionsThe intervention proved feasible to adapt. Staff training was delivered but on the whole it was not deemed feasible for staff to deliver the intervention. A large-scale study is warranted, but modifications to the implementation of the intervention are required.

Dataset Information

Assessing vulnerability to risk of suicide and self-harm in prisoners: a Rasch analysis of the suicide concerns for offenders in the prison environment (SCOPE-2).

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Assessing vulnerability to risk of suicide and self-harm in prisoners: a Rasch analysis of the suicide concerns for offenders in the prison environment (SCOPE-2).

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets