Adapt-Life on Remand: A Pilot Randomized Trial With Individuals in Pretrial Detention

Area of Science:

• Correctional Psychology
• Forensic Mental Health
• Intervention Research

Background:

• Remand prisoners (RP) face unique vulnerabilities and challenges in correctional settings.
• Existing correctional interventions are often designed for sentenced prisoners, not RP.
• There is a critical need for tailored interventions for RP to address their specific mental health needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot the effectiveness of the ADAPT program for remand prisoners.
• To assess ADAPT's impact on emotion and behavior regulation, cognitive distortions, and suicide risk.
• To evaluate improvements in emotional literacy and regulation among RP.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study design comparing the ADAPT program group to a control group.
• Assessment of emotional literacy, emotional regulation, cognitive distortions, and suicide risk.
• Posttreatment evaluation of all measured outcomes.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in the ADAPT group across all measured outcomes.
• Participants showed reduced anxiety, somatization, depression, suicide concerns, and negative affect.
• The ADAPT program led to enhanced emotional regulation and increased positive affect.

Conclusions:

• The ADAPT program demonstrates preliminary effectiveness as a valuable intervention for remand prisoners.
• The findings support the need for tailored mental health programs for RP.
• This study highlights the potential of ADAPT to address the overlooked treatment needs of RP.