Citation
Blattman, Christopher; Chaskel, Sebastian; Jamison, Julian C.; & Sheridan, Margaret (2023). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reduces Crime and Violence over Ten Years: Experimental Evidence. American Economic Review: Insights, 5(4), 527-545.Abstract
Several small, short-term, or nonexperimental studies show that cognitive behavioral–informed interventions reduce antisocial behaviors over one to two years, but persistence research is rare. We followed 999 high-risk men in Liberia ten years after randomization into eight weeks of low-cost, nonspecialist-led therapy; $200 cash; both; or neither. A decade later, antisocial behaviors (such as robbery and drug selling) fell 0.2 standard deviations from therapy alone—significantly greater than the one-year impacts. Meanwhile, men who received therapy plus cash were 0.25 standard deviations less anti-social—similar to one-year results. In both cases, impacts were concentrated in men exhibiting highest baseline risk.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aeri.20220427Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2023Journal Title
American Economic Review: InsightsAuthor(s)
Blattman, ChristopherChaskel, Sebastian
Jamison, Julian C.
Sheridan, Margaret