ABSTRACT
The term “mentally disordered offenders” is a generic one, used in both clinical and legal settings to describe offenders with a mental illness, psychopathic or other severe personality disorder, or learning disability. This umbrella term clearly describes heterogeneous groups of individuals. The chapter therefore addresses mental illness and personality disorder separately, beginning by discussing the relationship with offending. The chapter reviews the research on the personal construct theory (PCT) perspective on mental illness and personality disorder, focusing on what is known about both the structure and content of construing of those individuals. For those who go on to offend, the PCT approach is particularly useful in understanding the meanings of their behaviour. Clinical applications of the PCT approach with these client groups are discussed, with one particular case example illustrated in detail.
