Treatment of Aggressive Behavior and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

NCT01519193 | Completed Phase 2 DMC

• 1 other identifier: UKCR2011
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Street children and children of vulnerable families in conflict or former conflict regions are often exposed to multiple traumatic events and situations in which they are forced to engage in violent behavior. The Narrative Exposure Therapy for violent offenders (NETvo) aims to reduce both PTSD symptoms and aggressive behavior. It helps the children to anchor fearful experiences and positive emotions linked to violent behaviour in the past. Additionally, visions for the future are developed in order to foster successful reintegration into society.

Conditions

Aggressive Behavior; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

Aggressive Behavior; Appetitive Aggression; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Positive emotions linked to aggressive behavior via the AAS-CS (Appetitive Aggressions Scale for children and students)

  6 months

• Load of traumatic symptoms measured via the UCLA Adolescent PTSD Index (Clinician-administered PTSD scale)

  6 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Load of depressive symptoms measured via the MINI-KID

  6 months

• Strength of suicidal ideation measured via the MINI-KID

  6 months

• Functionality measured via the CGAS (Children's Global Assessment Scale) and SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire)

  6 months

Study Arms (2)

Narrative Exposure Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy for violent offenders (NETvo)

No treatment control

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Narrative Exposure Therapy for violent offenders (NETvo) BEHAVIORAL

During NETvo the client, with the assistance of the therapist, constructs a chronological narrative of his whole life with a focus on exposure to traumatic stress and also on perpetrated violent acts. Empathic understanding, active listening, congruency and unconditional positive regard are key components of the therapist's behavior who asks in detail for emotions, cognitions, sensory information, and physiological reactions, linking them to an autobiographical context. Positive emotions and cognitions reported for violent acts are linked to the respective past. During four sessions the most important traumatic experiences and perpetrated violent acts are processed. In the fifth session plans and ideas for the future are developed to assist the children to reintegrate themselves into society.

Narrative Exposure Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 23 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Positive Emotions concerning aggressive behavior derived from expert interviews with higher Scores of the Appetitive Aggression Scale (AAS)
• children are part of an aid program for reintegration into society

You may not qualify if:

• current substance dependance or use of antipsychotic drugs
• chronically ill children

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Konstanz: lead

Study Sites (1)

Fondation Stamm

Bujumbura, Bujumbura Mairie Province, Burundi

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Aggression; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Social Behavior; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Anselm Crombach, Dipl.-Psych.

  University of Constance

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2011
• First Posted: January 26, 2012
• Study Start: January 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2012
• Study Completion: May 1, 2012
• Last Updated: November 7, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-11

Locations

BU (1)