The Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway for Men in England and Wales: A Qualitative Study of Pathway User Views About Services, Perceived Impact on Psychological Wellbeing, and Implications for Desistance

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway for Men in England and Wales

T2 - A Qualitative Study of Pathway User Views About Services, Perceived Impact on Psychological Wellbeing, and Implications for Desistance

AU - Jarrett, Manuela

AU - Trebilcock, Julie

AU - Weaver, Tim

AU - Forrester, Andrew

AU - Cambell, Colin D.

AU - Khondoker, Mizanur

AU - Vamvakas, George

AU - Barrett, Barbara

AU - Moran, Paul A.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology.

PY - 2025/1

Y1 - 2025/1

N2 - The offender personality disorder (OPD) Pathway is a network of services across prison, health and community settings in England and Wales providing psychological support for high-risk people who have offended and are thought to have a personality disorder. As part of a national evaluation of the Pathway, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 36 Pathway users to determine their views about their experiences in these services; and whether and how these impacted on their psychological wellbeing. Framework analysis was used to analyze the data. Participants reported positive therapeutic relationships with staff; improved psychological wellbeing; and for some, a shift away from antisocial toward more pro-social identities. They also described a negative impact of staff turnover and uncertainty about the role of prison officers and psychologists within prison services. Pathway services are able to engage individuals who have not previously engaged with services. Constancy of staff is fundamental to the Pathway.

AB - The offender personality disorder (OPD) Pathway is a network of services across prison, health and community settings in England and Wales providing psychological support for high-risk people who have offended and are thought to have a personality disorder. As part of a national evaluation of the Pathway, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 36 Pathway users to determine their views about their experiences in these services; and whether and how these impacted on their psychological wellbeing. Framework analysis was used to analyze the data. Participants reported positive therapeutic relationships with staff; improved psychological wellbeing; and for some, a shift away from antisocial toward more pro-social identities. They also described a negative impact of staff turnover and uncertainty about the role of prison officers and psychologists within prison services. Pathway services are able to engage individuals who have not previously engaged with services. Constancy of staff is fundamental to the Pathway.

KW - environment

KW - offender

KW - pathway

KW - personality disorder

KW - psychological wellbeing

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85207520709

U2 - 10.1177/00938548241286829

DO - 10.1177/00938548241286829

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85207520709

SN - 0093-8548

VL - 52

SP - 98

EP - 118

JO - CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR

JF - CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR

IS - 1

ER -