Forensic Schema Therapy: Theoretical Foundations

94

Abstract

The article discusses the theoretical model of schema therapy and provides an overview of research on its adaptation for individuals with convictions and those who have committed criminal acts under the influence of a mental illness. The main focus of this article is on research into the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of approaches. Based on the findings of foreign studies, forensic schema therapy has been shown to be effective. Current research directions are proposed, and the possibilities and limitations of the approach are discussed when applied to a sample of Russian-speaking convicts and psychiatric patients. The analysis suggests that forensic schema therapy may be a promising adaptation of the classic theoretical model of schema therapy for individuals who have committed criminal acts under the influence of a mental illness and have been involuntarily hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. Based on a meta-analysis of the available data, forensic schema therapy has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of criminal recidivism in these populations. The presented review of research in the field of forensic schema therapy in Russian is published for the first time.

General Information

Keywords: schema therapy, forensic schema therapy, risk of violence, insanity defense, involuntary treatment

Journal rubric: Forensic and Clinical Psychology in Legal Context

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2024140209

Funding. The reported study was funded by Russian Science Foundation (RSCF), project number 23-78-01263.

Received: 21.04.2024

Accepted:

For citation: Surgutskiy E.D., Vartanyan G.A. Forensic Schema Therapy: Theoretical Foundations [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiya i pravo = Psychology and Law, 2024. Vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 14–128. DOI: 10.17759/psylaw.2024140209. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Evgeny D. Surgutskiy, Research Engineer, Saint-Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2381-8537, e-mail: evgeniipsy@gmail.com

Gayane A. Vartanyan, PhD in Psychology, Senior Research Fellow, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology of Health and Deviant Behaviour, Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6266-4713, e-mail: g.vartanyan@spbu.ru

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