A framework for young people with neurodisability who engage in antisocial behaviour: Introducing the PAM-NEXT

In recent times there has been greater recognition of the over representation of young people with neurodisability within youth justice systems worldwide. This poses a problem for practitioners and suggests that current treatments based on addressing dynamic risk factors may be inadequate for addressing the needs of this group. This thesis elucidates these challenges and extends the Predictive Agency Model (PAM; Heffernan & Ward, 2017) into the Predictive Agency Model-Neurodisability Extension (PAM-NEXT). This extension considers how neurodisability can contribute to a maladaptive developmental history for young people which, in some cases, can lead to exposure to dynamic risk factors. The PAM-NEXT provides a framework to consider how these factors can be operationalised within the process of antisocial behaviour for young people with neurodisabilities. The PAM-NEXT is then applied to composite cases of young people who have engaged in antisocial behaviour to demonstrate its utility. Lastly the PAM-NEXT is evaluated and future directions discussed. The PAM-NEXT can provide practitioners options to adequately target treatment for young people with neurodisability who engage in antisocial behaviour.