Prior research evidence suggests that problem-solving training may be an important approach for intervention with vulnerable offenders so that incarcerated prisoners could be trained to identify, think through, and tackle difficult interpersonal situations while in prison. This parallel-controlled study provides preliminary evidence that a brief problem-solving intervention can be effective in reducing psychological distress and enhancing the self-perceived problem-solving abilities of vulnerable young offenders incarcerated in prison. Participants in the study were assigned to one of two groups: a social problem-solving therapy in a group format or a nonintervention comparison group. Participating vulnerable offenders fell into three categories: (1) suicidal risk inmates; (2) formal protection inmates; and (3) bullied in circulation inmates. All participants took part in an initial individual, 1-hour session with the researcher followed by structured interviews and completed questionnaire packages. This study appears to indicate that a brief, group-based, problem-solving intervention is effective in reducing the psychological distress experienced by a group of vulnerable incarcerated young offenders and has a positive impact on their self-perceived problem-solving abilities. Future research should take into account the methodological issues raised in the study. References