COMPASSION-FOCUSED THERAPY WITH VIRTUAL REALITY FOR CALLOUSUNEMOTIONAL YOUTH: A CLINICAL CASE STUDY ON THE THERAPY PROCESS OF A YOUNG OFFENDER
ABSTRACT The antisocial and aggressive behaviour in childhood and adolescence combined with psychopathic traits has been connected to a more severe and chronic trajectory of antisocial behaviour including criminality. Latest research has shown that compassion-focused therapy (CFT) adapted to youn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Finnish Foundation for Psychiatric Research
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Psychiatria Fennica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.psykiatriantutkimussaatio.fi/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Psychiatria_Fennica%E2%94%ACa2024_Heikkila%E2%95%A0e_et_al.pdf |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT
The antisocial and aggressive behaviour in childhood and adolescence combined with psychopathic traits has been connected
to a more severe and chronic trajectory of antisocial behaviour including criminality. Latest research has shown that
compassion-focused therapy (CFT) adapted to young offenders with psychopathic traits is an effective treatment. Also,
virtual reality (VR) is a new promising treatment tool in forensic settings. In our CFT+VR study project, we combined
CFT with VR in treating adolescents with severe antisocial behaviour and psychopathy. The aim of this case study was
to deepen our understanding of the therapy process of one adolescent in the CFT+VR intervention and to test its efficacy
on his psychopathic traits. The participant was a 19-year-old boy with a background of antisocial behaviour, detained in a
closed prison in Finland. He filled out the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory Short Version at three measurement points:
pre-treatment (T0), after the 10th CFT meeting (T1), after the last meeting (T2). Estimated with the Reliable Change
Index (RCI), our results indicate that during the intervention his callous and unemotional traits decreased (RCI<-1.96)
between T0 and T1 (RCI=-3.53), and between T0 and T2 (RCI=-2.83), as did his total psychopathic traits between T0 and
T1 (RCI=-2.42), and T0 and T2 (RCI=-3.03). Based on the therapy progression and the Interpretative Phenomenological
Analysis interview, the CFT+VR intervention increased the participant´s awareness of emotions and their connection to his
feelings and automatic aggressive reactions which the VR exposure enhanced further. Even though some criticism also arose,
the results of this case study suggest that the CFT+VR may be a new promising tool in treating adolescents with antisocial
behaviour and psychopathic traits. |
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| ISSN: | 2489-6152 |