The Centrality of Events Scale in Portuguese Adolescents

We explored the measurement model of the adolescent version of the Centrality of Event Scale and its invariance across community (n = 1,079; 42.8% male), referred for foster care (n = 205; 58.0% male), and detained (n = 206 male) adolescent participants. Results indicated a three-factor measurement model, including all three functions that memories of significant life events may have, as a good fit to our data, particularly for male participants. This measurement model was invariant across boys taken from those different samples but not across gender. As for the short version of the instrument, a one-factor solution was the best fit to our data. It was invariant across boys taken from those different samples and across gender. Boys and girls expressed similar experiences, whereas community male adolescents reported the lowest impact of a meaningful event, in comparison with referred and with detained boys. These findings provide evidence on the validity of the scale for use with diverse adolescent samples, which may contribute for a better understanding of the impact that significant life events may have on the development of gender-specific and group-specific vulnerabilities

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 article describes a secondary data analysis collected from inmates who participated in an independent randomized controlled trial, testing the efficacy of the Growing Pro-Social (GPS) Program. The current study aimed to test the program's ability to increase, on one hand, cognitive reappraisal (adaptive emotion regulation strategy) and, on the other hand, decrease expressive suppression (maladaptive emotion regulation strategy) over time. It was also assessed if the GPS was capable of reducing disciplinary infractions committed by inmates over time. Participants were randomized to the GPS treatment (n = 121) or the control group (n = 133). The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was completed at baseline, at mid-treatment, at post-treatment and at 12-months' follow-up. Disciplinary infractions were collected from prison records during the 12 months before the beginning of the program, during the GPS's 12-month length and during the 12 months after treatment completion. Treatment effects were analyzed with latent growth curve models. Concerning cognitive reappraisal, while treatment participants showed a significant increase, controls presented a decrease over time. For expressive suppression, the treatment group presented a significant decrease, and the control group showed no change over time. Treatment participants also presented a significant decrease in the number of disciplinary infractions and in the number of days in punishment, while controls showed no change or an increase over time. This study showed the GPS's ability to promote emotion and behavior regulation, which contributes not only to inmate's interpersonal adjustment, but also to a more efficient management of the prison system. (PsycINFO Database Recor

The effects of the growing pro-social program on cognitive distortions and early maladaptive schemas over time in male prison inmates: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a structured cognitive-behavioral group program, Growing Pro-Social (GPS), in reducing cognitive distortions and early maladaptive schemas over time in male prison inmates. Method: A total of 254 participants were recruited from nine Portuguese prisons and allocated to receive GPS (n = 121) or treatment as usual (n = 133). Participants were assessed with self-report measures on cognitive distortions and early maladaptive schemas at baseline, during intervention, at post-treatment and at 12 months’ follow-up. Assessors were blind to group allocation. Treatment effects were tested with latent growth curve models. Results: At baseline, no significant differences between conditions were found. Results from latent growth curve models showed that condition was a significant predictor of change observed in all outcome measures over time. When compared with the control group, the treatment group showed a significant increase on adaptive thinking, and a significant decrease of cognitive distortions and early maladaptive schemas over time. Results also showed that treatment effects were maintained over time (12 months after GPS completion). Additionally, participants who completed the program presented higher improvements on cognitive distortions and early maladaptive schemas over time than non-completers. Conclusion: This study showed that a structured cognitive-behavioral group program can have positive effects on the cognitive functioning of male prison inmates, by reducing cognitive distortions and the prominence of early maladaptive schemas

Clinical change in anger, shame, and paranoia after a structured cognitive-behavioral group program: Early findings from a randomized trial with male prison inmates

Objectives: This study’s main goal was to assess the efficacy of a structured cognitive-behavioral group program, Growing Pro-Social (GPS), in reducing anger, paranoia and external shame in male prison inmates. Methods: In this randomized trial, a treatment group (n=24) was compared to a control group (n=24) and both groups were assessed at pre- and post-treatment. Participants answered the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Paranoia Scale, and the Other as Shamer Scale. Treatment effects were tested using ANCOVA with baseline as covariate and condition as fixed factor. Additionally, in order to assess significant clinical change after intervention, the Reliable Change Index (RCI) was computed. Results: At baseline, no significant differences between conditions were found. ANCOVA with baseline as covariate showed significant differences between groups at post-treatment. When compared to controls, treatment subjects showed lower scores in anger-trait (temperament and reaction subscales) and paranoia. Concerning clinical change, a high percentage of treatment subjects presented improvements in anger, paranoia and external shame; the majority of controls showed significant deterioration in the same variables. After treatment, differences between groups were observed in the distributions by clinical change categories for anger-trait and its subscales, and paranoia. No differences between groups were found in anger-state and external shame. Conclusions: These results point out the GPS’s ability to promote significant change in cognitive and emotional relevant variables associated with antisocial behavior

The prevalence of personality disorders in Portuguese male prison inmates: Implications for penitentiary treatment

Prison inmates are known to be a population with a high prevalence of mental disorders. Most of these disorders are chronic and difficult to treat, particularly in what concerns Cluster B Personality Disorders, which prevalence in forensic samples  are even higher than in the general population. This study assesses the prevalence of Personality Disorders in a sample of 294 Portuguese male prison inmates, interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II). The results showed a global prevalence rate of 79.9%, with 42.8% of the participants diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder as the main diagnosis. Paranoid, Passive-Aggressive, Borderline, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders were the most common comorbid diagnosis associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder. These results strongly suggest that Personality Disorders should be taken into account when deciding and planning the intervention inside prison

Hiding shame by attacking others: early shame experiences, shame coping strategies and aggressive behavior in adolescents with disruptive disorders

Introdução: Estudos anteriores destacam o forte impacto das experiências precoces na vergonha e no comportamento agressivo, bem como em outras psicopatologias. Apesar de a literatura suportar o papel crucial da vergonha na saúde mental, o seu efeito preditivo não é totalmente claro em algumas perturbações, como nas Perturbações Disruptivas. Estudos recentes têm também apontado a importância das estratégias utilizadas pelos indivíduos para lidar com a vergonha. Metodologia: Este estudo transversal explora o efeito mediador da vergonha e das estratégias de coping com a vergonha na relação entre as experiências precoces e o comportamento agressivo em 283 adolescentes diagnosticados com Perturbações Disruptivas ou Perturbação da Personalidade Antissocial. Resultados: A análise de mediação mostra que a vergonha e as estratégias de coping com a vergonha medeiam a associação entre as experiências precoces (vergonha e calor/ segurança) e as diferentes dimensões do comportamento agressivo. As memórias precoces predizem significativamente os níveis atuais de vergonha. A vergonha prediz o comportamento agressivo, direta e indiretamente (através do coping com a vergonha). As estratégias de Ataque ao Outro e de Ataque ao Self predizem positivamente o comportamento agressivo, enquanto o Evitamento e a Fuga têm um efeito preditivo negativo. Conclusões: Estes resultados sugerem que adolescentes com comportamento agressivo podem envolver-se em estratégias de coping com a vergonha externalizantes ou internalizantes, embora pareçam recorrer principalmente às externalizantes, especialmente o Ataque ao Outro, a fim de lidar com a vergonha. Introduction: Previous studies highlight the impact of early toxic experiences on shame and aggressive behavior, and on other psychopathologies. Nonetheless, the predictor impact of shame is not entirely clear in some disorders, like Disruptive Disorders. Recent studies have also pointed out the importance of strategies used by individuals to cope with shame. Methodology: This cross-sectional study explores the potential mediator effect of shame and shame coping styles in the relationship between early experiences and aggressive behavior in 283 adolescents with Disruptive Disorders or Antisocial Personality Disorder. Results: Mediation analysis results showed that shame and shame coping strategies mediate the association between early experiences (shame and warmth/safeness) and different dimensions of aggressive behavior (physical/verbal aggression, anger and hostility). Both types of early memories significantly predicted current levels of shame. Shame predicted the dimensions of aggressive behavior both directly and indirectly (through shame coping styles). Attack Other and Attack Self strategies positively predicted aggressive behavior, while Avoidance and Withdrawal had a negative predictor effect. Conclusions: These findings suggest that adolescents with aggressive behavior may engage in externalized and internalized shame coping strategies, although they mainly seem to take on externalized ones, especially Attack Other, in order to cope with shame.Palavras-chave / KeywordsExperiências precoces, Vergonha, Coping com a vergonha, Comportamento agressivo, Perturbações disruptivas.Early experiences, Shame, Shame coping strategies, Aggressive behavior, disruptive disorders

From multimodal programs to a new cognitive–interpersonal approach in the rehabilitation of offenders

A considerable amount of meta-analytic research supports the effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral psychoeducational programs in reducing recidivism rates, in youths and adults with antisocial behavior. These same studies suggest that programs including a cognitive component are as twice as more effective in reducing recidivism rates. This paper reviews outcome studies sustaining the use of structured interventions in forensic settings. It introduces a new program, Growing Pro-Social (GPS), currently in use in several Portuguese youth rehabilitation centers and prisons. GPS is a multimodal structured group program designed for the rehabilitation of individuals with antisocial behavior. It includes 40 weekly sessions, organized into 5 sequential modules. Based on a cognitive–interpersonal theoretical framework, GPS focuses on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral change, assuming as an ultimate goal the modification of dysfunctional core beliefs underlying antisocial behavior

Dimensionality and measurement invariance of the Sexually Aggressive Behaviors Scale across male and female portuguese college students

There is growing interest on the topic of Sexual Violence (SV) perpetrated by community samples; movements, as the Me Too, have triggered such focus. Researching the validity of core SV measures is now fundamental. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the structure of the Portuguese version of the Sexually Aggressive Behaviors Scale (SABS-PT) while testing for measurement invariance across gender. The SABS-PT was tested among a sample of 2540 Portuguese college students (48.5% males and 51.5% females). All participants identified as heterosexual, and their ages ranged between 18 and 39 years old. To assess the construct validity and test for measurement invariance across gender, single and multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analyses were performed. Results support the internal consistency and convergent/discriminant validity of the SABS-PT in relation to external variables. Overall, the findings suggest a good fit of data to the model. The partial scalar invariance of the measurement was obtained and further analyses on latent means differences indicated that men scored higher on SV compared to women. The SABS-PT may constitute a useful instrument for screening sexual initiation by aggressive means and associated risk factors and may play an important role as an outcome measure in programs preventing sexual violence