Interventions to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism (P/CVE)

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SBU Enquiry Service

Responds to queries received from Swedish healthcare and social service providers, or governmental organisations. Queries have a limited scope and the process is designed to enable a more rapid response, typically within two to three months. Reports are based on systematic reviews, that are identified through structured searches and critically appraised for risk of bias.

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Published: Report no: ut202612 Registration no: SBU 2026/355

Question

What is the effect of interventions aiming to prevent violent extremism?

PICO

  • Population: Adults who are at risk of becoming involved in, or are already involved in, violent extremism.
  • Intervention: Interventions delivered through social services, as well as interventions provided by civil society organizations or voluntary/community-based initiatives.
  • Comparison: No intervention or an alternative intervention.
  • Outcome: Reduced criminal offending and improved quality of life.

Method

A systematic literature search was performed using the following databases: Medline (Ovid), Scopus, CINAHL, PsycInfo, SOCIndex, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection.

Two authors independently assessed the abstracts of all identified studies.

Risk of bias in relevant systematic reviews was assessed using an assessment tool based on AMSTAR.

Identified literature

We included two systematic reviews assessed as having a moderate risk of bias [1, 2]. This means that we consider them sufficiently well conducted to present their findings. The results and conclusions are presented in Table 1. We also identified five reviews that were relevant to the research question but were judged to have a high risk of bias [3-7]. Because a high risk of bias entails a substantial risk that the findings may be misleading, we do not present any results or conclusions from those reviews.

The literature search and study selection procedures, as well as the assessment of risk of bias, are described in the Methods section. The findings have not been analyzed in relation to the Swedish context.

Table 1 Systematic reviews with low/moderate risk of bias.

RCT = randomized controlled study
Included studies Population, Intervention, Control Outcome and Results
Lewis et al, 2024 [1]
Case management interventions seeking to counter radicalisation to violence and related forms of violence: A systematic review
No eligible primary studies were found concerning effectiveness of case management tools and approaches in intervention seeking to counter radicalisation to violence. 

Eligible study designs: RCT or stronger quasi-experimental research designs. 

Relevant research question in review
Part I: (objective 1) Synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of case management tools and approaches in interventions seeking to counter radicalisation to violence.		 Population:
Participants of any age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or ideological perspective (e.g., right‐wing; Islamist; left‐wing, etc.) 

Intervention:
Case management interventions 

Case management defined as collaborative process which assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and evaluates options and services.
Containing six components:
  • Client identification
  • Client assessment
  • Case planning
  • Implementation/Delivery
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Transition/Exit
 No results reported on effectiveness of case management tools and approaches to counter radicalisation to violence, but future renewed review is planned within five years. 

Outcomes:
Primary outcomes: risk reduction, disengagement, deradicalisation.Secondary outcomes: any specific tools or approaches on progress toward primary outcomes.
Authors' conclusion:
“One of the main findings from Part I is that very little is known about the effectiveness of tools and approaches used in this context (Objective 1). [...] The effectiveness of existing case management tools and approaches is poorly understood [...].”
Zych et al, 2022 [2]
Is radicalization a family issue? A systematic review of family-related risk and protective factors, consequences, and interventions against radicalization
No eligible primary studies were found concerning the impact of radicalisation for families or family‐based interventions. 

Eligible study designs: RCT or quasi-experimental research with robust designs non-randomized experimental vs. control group including a pre‐test and a post-test measures, and matched designs. No limitations regarding the year, language, or geographical area. 

Relevant research question in review
Are family‐based interventions against radicalisation effective?		 Population:
Participants of any age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and family structure, from any part of the world. Any type of population with at least one radicalised family member or at-risk of radicalisation. 

Intervention:
Family-based interventions: activity, strategy, technique, training, and program that involves family as a recipient of the intervention focused on risk/protective factors; e.g. family counselling, individual or group interventions.		 No results reported on interventions against radicalisation, but future renewed review is planned within four years. 

Outcomes:
Measures of radicalisation to violence, extremism and terrorism, e.g. right‐wing, left‐wing, religious extremism, and any other type of radicalisation or extremism.
Self-reports
Official records
Authors' conclusion:
“This systematic review did not locate any studies focused on the impact of radicalization on families or family‐based interventions. Thus, studying the impact of radicalization on family is urgently needed.”

References

  1. Lewis J, Marsden S, Cherney A, Zeuthen M, Rahlf L, Squires C, et al. Case management interventions seeking to counter radicalisation to violence and related forms of violence: A systematic review. Campbell Syst Rev. 2024;20(2). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1386
  2. Zych I, Nasaescu E. Is radicalization a family issue? A systematic review of family-related risk and protective factors, consequences, and interventions against radicalization. Campbell Syst Rev. 2022;18(3). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1266
  3. Brouillette-Alarie S, Hassan G, Varela W, Ousman S, Kilinc D, Savard ÉL, et al. Systematic Review on the Outcomes of Primary and Secondary Prevention Programs in the Field of Violent Radicalization. J Deradicalization. 2022(30):117–68.
  4. Jugl I, Lösel F, Bender D, King S. Psychosocial Prevention Programs against Radicalization and Extremism: A Meta-Analysis of Outcome Evaluations. Eur J Psychol Appl Legal Context. 2021;13(1):37–46. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5093/EJPALC2021A6
  5. Mazerolle L, Cherney A, Eggins E, Hine L, Higginson A. Multiagency programs with police as a partner for reducing radicalisation to violence. Campbell Syst Rev. 2021;17(2). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1162
  6. Mughal R, DeMarinis V, Nordendahl M, Lone H, Phillips V, Boyd-MacMillan E. Public Mental Health Approaches to Online Radicalisation: An Empty Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(16). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20166586
  7. Treacy S, Reed A, Glazzard A. A systematic integrative review of counter-messaging communication campaigns targeting terrorism or violent extremism. Behav Sci Terror Polit Aggress. 2024. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/19434472.2024.2419390

Search strategies

Medline via OvidSP 30 June 2026

Title: Interventions aiming to counter radicalist violent behaviour
/ = Term from the MeSH controlled vocabulary; .sh = Term from the MeSH controlled vocabulary; exp = Term from MeSH including terms found below this term in the MeSH hierarchy; .ti,ab = Title or abstract; .tw = Title or abstract; .kf = Keywords; .kw = Keywords, exact; .bt = Book title. NLM Bookshelf; .pt = Publication type; .ja = Journal abbreviation; .af = All fields; adjn = Adjacent. Proximity operator retrieving adjacent words, adj3 retrieves records with search terms within two terms from each other; * or $ = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase
Search terms Items found
Population: Violent extremism
1. exp Terrorism/ 14 635
2. exp Bioterrorism/ 4 734
3. exp National Socialism/ 1 935
4. OR/1–3 16 565
5. (extremis* OR terroris* OR extreme right OR far-right OR incel* OR indoctrin* OR white supremac* OR neo-nazi* OR active club* OR nationalis* OR extreme left OR anarc* OR bio-terror* OR salafis* OR islamist* OR jihad* OR radicali* OR extreme violen*).ti,ab,kf,bt. 16 400
6. 4 OR 5 29 011
Intervention: Recidivism/Prevention, Deradicalisation, Exit support
7. (program* or rehabilit* or treat* or interven* or therap* or prevent* or manag* or (behav* adj4 (chang* or modif*)) or desistance or deradical* or de-radical* or relaps* or disengag* or desist* or divert* or re-integrat* or reintegrat* or counter* or exit* or recidivis*).ti,ab,kf,bt. 14 198 461
8. exp Social work/ 19 569
9. exp Counseling/ 52 325
10. exp Behavior control/ 15 208
11. Persuasive communication/ 4 312
12. (casework* or case work* or (social adj4 (work* or service* or welfare or care*)) or coun?el*).ti,ab,kf,bt. 262 408
13. OR/7–12 14 318 867
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trials1
14. (Systematic Review/ or Meta-Analysis/ or Cochrane Database Syst Rev.ja. or (((systematic or realist or integrative or mixed method* or umbrella) adj4 (review)) or "meta analys*" or metaanalys*).ti,bt,ab.) not (editorial/ or letter/ or case reports/) 631 067
Final result
15. 6 AND 13 AND 14 244

1. Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy for identifying randomized trials in MEDLINE: sensitivity- and precision-maximizing version (2008 revision); Ovid format. The Cochrane Collaboration; 2008. Available from: https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current/chapter-04-technical-supplement-searching-and-selecting-studies#section-3-6-1. with modifications: the following terms are added: clinical trial, phase iii.pt. ; randomised.ab. ; ("Phase 3" or "phase3" or "phase III" or P3 or "PIII").ti,ab,kw.

Scopus via scopus.com 30 June 2026

Title: Interventions aiming to counter radicalist violent behaviour
TITLE-ABS-KEY = Title, abstract or keywords (including indexed keywords and author keywords); ALL = All fields; W/n = Within. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; PRE/n = Precedes by. Proximity operator, the first term in the search must precede the second by n words; LIMIT-TO (X) = Includes only results of specified type, e.g., publication type or time range; DOCTYPE = Publication type; “re” = review; “le” = letter; “ed” = editorial; “ch” = book chapter; “cp” = conference proceedings; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase
Search terms Items found
Population: Violent extremism
1. TITLE-ABS-KEY (extremis* OR terroris* OR "extreme right" OR far-right OR incel* OR indoctrin* OR "white supremac*" OR neo-nazi* OR "active club*" OR nationalis* OR "extreme left" OR anarc* OR bio-terror* OR salafis* OR islamist* OR jihad* OR radicali* OR "extreme violen*") 224 565
Intervention: Recidivism/Prevention, Deradicalisation, Exit support
2. TITLE-ABS-KEY (program* OR rehabilit* OR treat* OR interven* OR therap* OR prevent* OR manag* OR (behav* W/3 (chang* OR modif*)) OR desistance OR deradical* OR de-radical* OR disengag* OR desist* OR divert* OR re-integrat* OR reintegrat* OR counter* OR exit* OR recidivis* OR relaps* OR casework* OR "case work*" OR coun?el* OR (social W/3 (work* OR service* OR welfare OR care*))) 31 274 527
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trials
3. TITLE-ABS-KEY (((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” or umbrella) W/3 review) OR "meta analy*" OR metaanaly*) AND (EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “le”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “ed”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “ch”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “cp”)) 947 937
Final result
4. 1 AND 2 AND 3 552

SOCIndex/Criminal Justice Abstracts/Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection/CINAHL/APA PsycInfo via EBSCO 8 June 2026

Title: Interventions aiming to counter radicalist violent behaviour
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase
Search terms Items found
Population: Violent extremism
1. SU Extremism 2821
2. SU Political violence 5216
3. SU Terrorism 38 867
4. SU Radicalism 6265
5. TI (extremis* OR terroris* OR extreme right OR far-right OR incel* OR indoctrin* OR white supremac* OR neo-nazi* OR active club* OR nationalis* OR extreme left OR anarc* OR bio-terror* OR salafis* OR islam* OR jihad* OR radicali* OR extreme violen*) OR AB (extremis* OR terroris* OR extreme right OR far-right OR incel* OR indoctrin* OR white supremac* OR neo-nazi* OR active club* OR nationalis* OR extreme left OR anarc* OR bio-terror* OR salafis* OR islam* OR jihad* OR radicali* OR extreme violen*) OR SU (extremis* OR terroris* OR extreme right OR far-right OR incel* OR indoctrin* OR white supremac* OR neo-nazi* OR active club* OR nationalis* OR extreme left OR anarc* OR bio-terror* OR salafis* OR islam* OR jihad* OR radicali* OR extreme violen*) 189 013
6. OR/ 1-5 192 614
Intervention: Recidivism/Prevention, Deradicalisation, Exit support
7. SU Reintegration 5559
8. SU Social casework 24 118
9. SU Social services 97 422
10. TI ( program* OR rehabilit* OR treat* OR interven* OR therap* OR prevent* OR manag* OR "behavioral change" OR "behavior modification" OR "behavioural change" OR "behaviour modification" OR desistance OR deradical* OR de-radical* OR relaps* OR disengag* OR desist* OR divert* OR re-integrat* OR reintegrat* OR counter* OR exit OR recidivis*) OR AB ( program* OR rehabilit* OR treat* OR interven* OR therap* OR prevent* OR manag* OR "behavioral change" OR "behavior modification" OR "behavioural change" OR "behaviour modification" OR desistance OR deradical* OR de-radical* OR relaps* OR disengag* OR desist* OR divert* OR re-integrat* OR reintegrat* OR counter* OR exit OR recidivis*) OR SU ( program* OR rehabilit* OR treat* OR interven* OR therap* OR prevent* OR manag* OR "behavioral change" OR "behavior modification" OR "behavioural change" OR "behaviour modification" OR desistance or deradical* OR de-radical* OR relaps* OR disengag* OR desist* OR divert* OR re-integrat* OR reintegrat* OR counter* OR exit OR recidivis*) 8 440 441
11. OR/ 7-10 8 499 555
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis / randomized controlled trials
12. (TI (((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*) OR AB (((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*) OR SU (((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*)) 484 705
Final result
13. 6 AND 11 AND 12 622 (815 including duplicates)
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