Addressing Heightened Levels of Aggression in Traumatized Offenders With Psychotherapeutic Means

Appetitive Aggression Clinical Trial

Official title:

Addressing Heightened Levels of Aggression in Traumatized Offenders With Psychotherapeutic Means: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Eastern DR Congo

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02992561
• Other study ID #: FORNET1617
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 2016
• Est. completion date: March 2019

Study information

• Verified date: July 2020
• Source: University of Konstanz
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Heightened levels of aggression are fuelling violent incidents at all levels, especially in post-war regions. Narrative Exposure Therapy for Forensic Offender Rehabilitation (FORNET) aims to address trauma symptoms along with reactive and instrumental/appetitive aggression to encounter the downward cycle of perpetration and enforce a sustainable (re-)integration into civil life. In the present study, the investigators provide an adapted version of FORNET to former combatants in the North Kivu, Eastern DR Congo. Structured baseline, 3 and 6 month follow up interviews will be administered to assess the main outcome measures recent violent acts and appetitive aggression.

Description:

Participants will be recruited through local NGOs and eligible clients randomized to the treatment or waitlist control group, respectively. The treatment will be provided by supervised local counsellors after a 4-week training. At baseline, 3-month and 6-month follow up, sociodemographic data, trauma exposure, perpetrated violent acts, PTSD, recent aggression, functionality and drug dependency will be assessed. The interviews will be conducted by blind Congolese psychological interviewers after an intensive 3-weeks training and continuous supervision.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 402
• Est. completion date: March 2019
• Est. primary completion date: March 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 16 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

• Former participant of an armed group in DR Congo

• Involvement in violent attacks

Inclusion Criteria:

• PTSD diagnosis or AAS sum score of 22 or higher

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute intoxification (alcohol or other drugs)

• Acute psychotic symptoms

• Sign of cerebro-organic diseases

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aggression
• Appetitive Aggression

Intervention

Behavioral:
• FORNET (adapted version)

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Germany	University of Konstanz	Konstanz	BW

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Konstanz

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Germany, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	Social acknowledgement (0-45 indicating more social acknowledgment)	Social Acknowledgement Questionnaire (Maerker & Mueller, 2004)	Change from baseline to 3-5 and 6-9 months post treatment
Other	Depression (0-27 indicating higher severity)	Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (Kroenke & Spitzer, 2002)	Change from baseline to 3-5 and 6-9 months post treatment
Other	Substance use problems	Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (Humeniuk et al., 2008)	Change from baseline to 3-5 and 6-9 months post treatment
Other	Epigenetic changes	Genome wide methylation patterns (to be explored)	Change from baseline to 6-9 month post treatment
Primary	Appetitive aggression (sumscore; 0-60 indicating higher levels)	Appetitive Aggression Scale (Weierstall & Ebert, 2011)	Change from baseline to 3-5 and 6-9 months post treatment
Primary	Current violent behavior (sumscore; 0-96 indicating more acts)	A list of violent offenses perpetrated during the last 3 months (formerly used in Burundi; Crombach/Augsburger/Nandi)	Change from baseline to 3-5 and 6-9 months post treatment
Secondary	PSS-I: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (sumscore, 0-80 indicating higher severity)	PTSD Symptom Scale (Foa & Tolin, 2000)	Change from baseline to 3-5 and 6-9 months post treatment

External Links

•   Results for the group of female former child soldiers