Therapeutic value of anger management programmes in a forensic setting

Kemple View is a secure psychiatric service for 64 male and female patients with enduring mental health problems. This paper describes how the need for an appropriate, therapeutic anger-management package was identified and how the programme was developed and implemented. The pilot run of the programme was fully evaluated and case studies are presented to demonstrate both the process of evaluation and the outcome. While the evaluation did not produce conclusively positive results, the process highlighted a range of practical and theoretical issues that have been used to adapt the existing material. The development of a more robust and relevant package for use in a forensic psychiatric setting is discussed. The paper aims to address some of the practical challenges involved in setting up the anger management programme at Kemple View and the implications for good practice.