The reliability and validity of the self-report questionnaire How I Think (HIT), designed to assess self-serving cognitive distortions related to antisocial behavior, was tested among Swedish offender and nonoffender adults and adolescents (N = 364). The results showed self-serving distortions to be more common among offenders and to predict self-reported antisocial behavior when tested among adults. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed, in contrast to earlier findings, that the underlying structure of the HIT was best explained by a three-factor solution with one major cognitive factor, referred to as “criminal mind.” It was concluded that the HIT, after further examination of its structural and divergent validity, could be used as a measure of criminal thinking in adults as well as in adolescents.

Studies have shown that offenders have impaired cognitive abilities yet it is unclear if cognitive dysfunction per se contributes to aggressive antisocial behaviors. Our aims were to (1) determine associations between cognitive functioning and different forms of aggressive antisocial behaviors, (2) describe prevalence of, and covariates to, uneven intellectual profiles, and (3) investigate associations between cognitive functioning and age at onset of aggressive antisocial behaviors. A cohort (n = 269) of 18-25 years old male violent offenders were assessed for general intellectual functioning with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales-third edition, and for executive functions with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Only one measure of cognitive functioning - slower reaction times in a response inhibition test - was significantly correlated with higher occurrence of aggressive, but not exclusively antisocial, behaviors. Furthermore, offenders with even intellectual profiles showed more aggressive antisocial behaviors than offenders with uneven intellectual profiles. Finally, increased errors in tests of cognitive flexibility and slower reaction times in a response inhibition test were associated with a younger age at onset of general, but not exclusively violent, criminality. Overall, effect sizes were small. The findings emphasize the need of research investigating how cognitive functioning in offenders affects susceptibility to treatment interventions.

The understanding of offending, and thus its possible prevention, is expanded through longitudinal studies on criminal trajectories depicting early life risk factors. This longitudinal study aimed to explore criminal trajectories, criminal histories, and early life risk factors in a cohort of violent offenders. A Swedish nationally representative cohort of male violent offenders ( n = 266), clinically assessed while imprisoned aged 18 to 25, was followed through national registers from age 15 to 25–34. Substantial differences in criminal histories between violent offenders and a matched comparison group ( n = 10,000) were demonstrated. Five trajectory groups were identified: four persisting and one desisting. Although differences were observed between persisting trajectory groups, a higher prevalence of early life risk factors was generally displayed compared to the desisting, especially in conduct problems and experiences of out-of-home placements. Neurocognitive ability and prevalence of ADHD and autism were similar across trajectories. Severe early life risks highlight the population’s need for early interventions.

The role of patient participation in forensic psychiatric care is unclear, but has been emphasised as important in recent research. This study aims to describe patients’ lived experiences of participation in high-security, forensic psychiatric settings. Sixteen patient interviews were performed in this phenomenological study and analysed with a Reflective Lifeworld Research approach (RLR). Results show that participation must be understood in relation to its opposite construct, non-participation. Participation can thus be explained as situations where non-participation is less visible. Actions to develop the training of patient-staff interactions for forensic psychiatric staff to promote patient participation are called for.

Patient participation in forensic psychiatric settings seems to be complex by nature, and previous studies show that patients rate their participation as lower in this context compared to general psychiatric contexts. Studies on caregivers’ perspective could provide a clearer picture of the components and possibilities of patient participation in forensic psychiatry. The aim of the study is to describe carers’ experiences in supporting patient participation in a maximum security forensic psychiatric care setting. Twelve psychiatric caregivers were interviewed about how they support patients’ participation. The result shows that a complexity of patient participation emerges as a difficult act of balancing the paradoxical role of caring for the patient’s interests and development, while simultaneously representing and adhering to the rules and regulations of the system in which one is employed. In conclusion, it is suggested that participation is comprehended as an umbrella term and that focus is directed to conceptualising what caregivers can do in order to create positive patient-carer relationships, as well as what constitutes such a relationship.