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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01519193

Treatment of Aggressive Behavior and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Aggressive Behavior Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia Aggression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Mental Disorders Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Social Behavior Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

12 year–23 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Fondation Stamm

Bujumbura, Bujumbura Mairie Province, Burundi

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

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.

Primary outcomes

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

    Time frame: 6 months

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

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Load of depressive symptoms measured via the MINI-KID

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. Strength of suicidal ideation measured via the MINI-KID

    Time frame: 6 months

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

    Time frame: 6 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Konstanz

Other

Registry information

Official study 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

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2012
First posted
Jan 26, 2012
Registry last updated
Nov 7, 2012

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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