Understanding the sleep-aggression relationship in a forensic mental health sample. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Greenwood, Leah; Ireland, Jane L.; Abbott, Janice; Chu, Simon; Niesten, Isabella
• Is Part Of: International journal of law and psychiatry. Volume 83(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Sleep -- Aggression -- Cognition -- Self-harm -- Forensic population -- CoSMASH; Forensic psychiatry -- Periodicals; Insanity (Law) -- Periodicals; Criminal psychology -- Periodicals; Forensic Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatrie médico-légale -- Périodiques; Aliénation mentale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Electronic journals; 614.15
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2022.101811
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-2527

Abstract

Abstract: The contribution of cognition to the sleep-aggression relationship is explored via three connected studies, involving adult male forensic patients detained in a high secure hospital. Study 1 included 31 patients, interviewed to examine their experiences of specific sleep problems. In Study 2, 42 patients completed a series of measures examining sleep dysfunction, aggression, and cognition, while Study 3 was designed to impact on sleep via a cognitive approach. In the latter, 48 patients were randomly assigned as part of a feasibility trial to one of three conditions: mindfulness (cognitive approach), sleep education, and treatment as usual. Collectively, the studies demonstrated the multifaceted nature of cognition in the sleep-aggression relationship, with a need to account fully for cognitive factors. A preliminary conceptual model is outlined - the Cognitive Sleep Model for Aggression and Self Harm (CoSMASH), as a direction for future research to consider.