Treatment of Aggressive Behavior and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Trial

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

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01519193
• Other study ID #: UKCR2011
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• First received: December 1, 2011
• Last updated: November 6, 2012
• Start date: January 2011
• Est. completion date: May 2012

Study information

• Verified date: November 2012
• Source: University of Konstanz
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Germany: Ethics Commission
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 42
• Est. completion date: May 2012
• Est. primary completion date: May 2012
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 12 Years to 23 Years

Eligibility

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

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aggression
• Aggressive Behavior
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Stress Disorders, Traumatic

Intervention

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.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Burundi	Fondation Stamm	Bujumbura

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Konstanz

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Burundi, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Positive emotions linked to aggressive behavior via the AAS-CS (Appetitive Aggressions Scale for children and students)		6 months	No
Primary	Load of traumatic symptoms measured via the UCLA Adolescent PTSD Index (Clinician-administered PTSD scale)		6 months	No
Secondary	Load of depressive symptoms measured via the MINI-KID		6 months	No
Secondary	Strength of suicidal ideation measured via the MINI-KID		6 months	No
Secondary	Functionality measured via the CGAS (Children's Global Assessment Scale) and SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire)		6 months	No