Addressing Heightened Levels of Aggression in Traumatized Offenders With Psychotherapeutic Means

NCT ID: NCT02992561

Last Updated: 2020-08-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

402 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-09-30

Study Completion Date

2019-03-31

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Appetitive Aggression

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Narrative Exposure Therapy (FORNET, adapted version)

Version of Narrative Exposure Therapy for Forensic Offender Rehabilitation including one lifeline session and 5 exposure sessions as well as 6 group sessions adapted from behavioral-therapy approaches for addiction problems.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

FORNET (adapted version)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Waitlist control or treatment as usual

No intervention or non-specific measures of support on request

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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FORNET (adapted version)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Narrative Exposure Therapy for Forensic Offender Rehabilitation (adapted version)

Eligibility Criteria

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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
Minimum Eligible Age

16 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Konstanz

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Anke Köbach

Postdoctoral Researcher

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Anke Köbach, PI

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Konstanz

Locations

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University of Konstanz

Konstanz, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Site Status

Countries

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Germany

References

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Carleial S, Natt D, Unternahrer E, Elbert T, Robjant K, Wilker S, Vukojevic V, Kolassa IT, Zeller AC, Koebach A. DNA methylation changes following narrative exposure therapy in a randomized controlled trial with female former child soldiers. Sci Rep. 2021 Sep 16;11(1):18493. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-98067-9.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34531495 (View on PubMed)

Koebach A, Carleial S, Elbert T, Schmitt S, Robjant K. Treating trauma and aggression with narrative exposure therapy in former child and adult soldiers: A randomized controlled trial in Eastern DR Congo. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2021 Mar;89(3):143-155. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000632.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33829803 (View on PubMed)

Robjant K, Koebach A, Schmitt S, Chibashimba A, Carleial S, Elbert T. The treatment of posttraumatic stress symptoms and aggression in female former child soldiers using adapted Narrative Exposure therapy - a RCT in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Behav Res Ther. 2019 Dec;123:103482. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.103482. Epub 2019 Sep 27.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 31639529 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2019.103482

Results for the group of female former child soldiers

Other Identifiers

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FORNET1617

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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