Andrade, Joana

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Andrade

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Joana

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Joana Andrade

Biography

Joana Andrade holds a PhD from the University of Minho and is an Assistant Professor at Portucalense University. Her research focuses on mental health in forensic populations, particularly the effectiveness of intervention programs on mental health outcomes and the role of trauma in antisocial behavior. She has published in leading journals and has presented at several national and international conferences.

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0000-0002-3980-9945
0A1E-404F-6510

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CINTESIS.UPT - Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde
Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde (CINTESIS.UPT), former I2P, is an R&D unit devoted to the study of cognition and behaviour in context. With an interdisciplinary focus, namely on Education, Translational and Applied Psychology

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2024 - 20254
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Pre-trial detention as a last resort measure? When the last shall be the first
    2025-04-13 - Gonçalves, Rui; Castro Rodrigues, Andreia; Andrade, Joana
    This study delves into the profiles of individuals awaiting trial in Portugal, examining their sociodemographic, clinical and criminal backgrounds to elucidate the factors influencing pre-trial detention decisions. Analysing a cohort of 198 individuals (78.3% men), our findings challenge common assumptions, revealing that the majority of pre-trial detainees exhibit a low propensity for violence, often facing non-violent charges. Notably, the study contradicts the prevailing belief about leniency towards women, as female detainees, primarily first-time offenders with non-violent charges, reported lower violence risk, higher levels of familial support and higher rates of employment at the time of detention. Additionally, the research identifies key variables associated with a higher risk of violence among pre-trial detainees, emphasising age, prior convictions and recent remand status. These results underscore the imperative for early interventions tailored to this high-risk group. Overall, this work contributes crucial insights, prompting a reconsideration of pre-trial measures and advocating for more nuanced approaches in cases where less severe alternatives may be warranted.
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    PublicationRestricted Access
    Adapt-Life on remand: A pilot randomized trial with individuals in pretrial detention
    2025-08-01 - Gonçalves , Rui Abrunhosa; Castro-Rodrigues, Andreia; Andrade, Joana
    Remand prisoners (RP) are in a precarious situation marked by uncertainty and vulnerability, facing significant challenges from the moment they are admitted. Despite numerous efforts to provide treatment in correctional settings, most interventions have been designed primarily for sentenced prisoners. The ADAPT program, however, is a structured intervention specifically tailored for RP. It aims to enhance emotion and behavior regulation, address cognitive distortions, improve problem-solving skills, and offer strategies for suicide prevention. The primary objective of this pilot study was to assess the effectiveness of the ADAPT in improving emotional literacy and emotional regulation, while reducing cognitive distortions and suicide risk. Our findings indicated that, at the Posttreatment phase, there were statistically significant improvements across all measured outcomes in the treatment group compared to the control group. Specifically, participants in the ADAPT exhibited lower levels of anxiety, somatization, and depression. Additionally, there was a notable decrease in suicide concerns, negative affect, and difficulties in emotional regulation. Conversely, there was an increase in positive affect among those who underwent the program. These results provide preliminary evidence supporting the effectiveness of the ADAPT as a valuable intervention for RP, a population often overlooked in treatment efforts.
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    PublicationRestricted Access
    Inmates’ Mental Health and Violent Outcomes: An Exploratory Study
    2024-10-24 - Gonçalves, Rui; Castro Rodrigues, Andreia; Andrade, Joana
    Objective: The present study intends to examine (a) the prevalence of mental health problems among male and female detainees and (b) the role of different conditions on various violence-related outcomes among remand prisoners. To advance these primary objectives, the study additionally aims to explore the validity of the Jail Screening Assessment Tool (JSAT), developed to identify mental health problems in jails and prisons. Method: This study included a total of 198 individuals who were in prison awaiting trial between July 2021 and March 2023. Results: This study revealed that JSAT shows good psychometric properties in terms of item sensibility, convergent and discriminant validity, and known-groups validity. Our results showed that, generally, the most prevalent problems were anxiety, depression, and blame. In addition, our findings confirmed that women reported more somatic problems, anxiety, depression, suicide, and motor retardation, while men reported a higher prevalence of blunted affect and motor hyperactivity. Moreover, this study revealed that JSAT dimensions are associated with measures of violent behavior. Our results showed that certain dimensions, such as suspiciousness and motor retardation, were found to predict multiple violence-related outcomes. Conclusions: Overall, this study denoted that JSAT has promising results in different validity and sensibility markers, shedding light on its contribution to understanding the influence of mental health conditions on violent behaviors.
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    PublicationRestricted Access
    Attitudes of University Students Toward Individuals Who Have Committed Sexual Crimes: The Role of Sociodemographic and Personality Variables
    2025-10-06 - Sousa, Marta; Silva, Ana Filipa; Andrade, Joana; Rodrigues, Andreia de Castro; Cruz, Ana Rita; Cunha, Olga
    Understanding the attitudes of justice-related students toward individuals who have committed sexual crimes (ICSC) is crucial, as they will likely work with them. This study examines the attitudes of 418 Portuguese University students in psychology, criminology, and law toward ICSC and their rehabilitation, exploring variations based on sociodemographic and personality variables. Participants completed the Attitudes toward Sex Offenders Scale, the Attitudes toward Treatment of Sex Offenders Scale, and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Students generally hold negative attitudes toward ICSC and their rehabilitation, with criminology students expressing the most positive attitudes. Regression analyses reveal that those who oppose rehabilitation also hold negative attitudes toward ICSC, and lower openness, agreeableness, and negative attitudes toward ICSC are linked to unfavorable attitudes toward rehabilitation. These findings highlight the need to enhance education about this population and their rehabilitation in higher education to better prepare future professionals for effective and compassionate work with ICSC.