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Treatment of Aggressive Behavior and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Anselm Crombach, University of Konstanz
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01519193
First received: December 1, 2011
Last updated: November 6, 2012
Last verified: November 2012
History of Changes
  Purpose

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.


Condition Intervention Phase
Aggressive Behavior
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
 Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy for violent offenders (NETvo)
 Phase 2

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Treatment of Aggressive Behavior and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Former Street Children and Vulnerable Children in Burundi With Narrative Exposure Therapy for Violent Offenders

Resource links provided by NLM:

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by University of Konstanz:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Positive emotions linked to aggressive behavior via the AAS-CS (Appetitive Aggressions Scale for children and students) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Load of traumatic symptoms measured via the UCLA Adolescent PTSD Index (Clinician-administered PTSD scale) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Load of depressive symptoms measured via the MINI-KID [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Strength of suicidal ideation measured via the MINI-KID [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Functionality measured via the CGAS (Children's Global Assessment Scale) and SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Enrollment: 42
Study Start Date: January 2011
Study Completion Date: May 2012
Primary Completion Date: May 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Narrative Exposure Therapy Behavioral: Narrative Exposure Therapy for violent offenders (NETvo)
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.
No Intervention: No treatment control

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   12 Years to 23 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Male
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 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

Exclusion Criteria:

  • current substance dependance or use of antipsychotic drugs
  • chronically ill children
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01519193

Locations
Burundi
Fondation Stamm
Bujumbura, Burundi
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of Konstanz
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Anselm Crombach, Dipl.-Psych. University of Constance
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Anselm Crombach, Principal Investigator, University of Konstanz
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01519193     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: UKCR2011
Study First Received: December 1, 2011
Last Updated: November 6, 2012
Health Authority: Germany: Ethics Commission

Keywords provided by University of Konstanz:
Aggressive Behavior
Appetitive Aggression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Aggression
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Traumatic
 Behavioral Symptoms
Anxiety Disorders
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 19, 2013