Mental Health and Aggression in Congolese Ex-combatants

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01625117
• Other study ID #: DFG_2011
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• First received: January 16, 2012
• Last updated: June 25, 2013
• Start date: May 2011
• Est. completion date: September 2012

Study information

• Verified date: June 2013
• Source: University of Konstanz
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Germany: Ethics Commission
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is examine, whether a treatment approach, which is specifically tailored for perpetrators who have participated in violence (a variant of Narrative Exposure Therapy) is effective in the reduction of instrumental aggression and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Description:

The reintegration of former child soldiers and ex-combatants is a big challenge in war-torn countries. Former child soldiers and ex-combatants often suffer from mental health problems and show enhanced levels of aggression. The present study focuses on the reduction of appetitive aggression and the improvement of mental health in former child soldiers and ex-combatants in DR Congo.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 38
• Est. completion date: September 2012
• Est. primary completion date: May 2012
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 16 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ex-combatants in Congo who live in a re-integration camp

Study Design

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aggression
• Appetitive Aggression
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Stress Disorders, Traumatic

Intervention

Behavioral:
• A variant of Narrative Exposure Therapy
During the proposed therapy, the client constructs a chronological narrative of his or her whole life which includes all traumatic experiences and perpetrated violent acts. All emotions, cognitions, sensory information, and physiological reactions are activated and linked to the autobiographical context.In five sessions the therapist and the client try to go through all important traumatic experiences and perpetrated violent acts. The sixth session is a group session with four to five clients. The group session is oriented on Interpersonal Psychotherapy and focuses on the role change from soldier to civilian.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Congo	Reintegration camp for ex-combatants	Goma

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Konstanz	German Research Foundation

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Congo, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Appetitive aggression (Appetitive Aggression Scale)		6 months	No
Primary	Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, PDS)		6 months	No
Secondary	Symptoms of depression (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview)		6 months	No
Secondary	Functionality (Work and Social Adjustment Scale)		6 months	No