Can Psychopathy be Prevented? Clinical, Neuroimaging and Genetic Data
NCT ID: NCT06028620
Last Updated: 2023-12-01
Study Results
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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COMPLETED
NA
25 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2020-02-01
2022-06-01
Brief Summary
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* clinical measures of anxiety, depression post-traumatic stress and callous-unemotional traits
* functional neuroimaging techniques to measure brain activity.
* A sample of buccal epithelial cells to obtain information on serotonin transporter.
Researchers will compare maltreated children with a group on non-maltreated children to see if there are differences on psychological characteristics and on brain activity before treatment.
Detailed Description
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The final sample consisted of an experimental group of 14 MC which included 4 boys and 10 girls (mean age = 8.77 years old, S.D.=1.83), who had experienced a positive history of different types of trauma, and a control group of 10 HC from the general population who were developing normally and were age-matched to the MC (4 boys and 6 girls) (mean age = 9.57 years old, S.D. = 1.91). They were recruited through an advertisement placed at the Faculty of Psychology, National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM or by direct referral from parents of previous participants in other studies. All were residents of Mexico City. The study protocol was conducted with the approval of the UNAM Institutional Review Board.
Clinical scales A comprehensive clinical battery was used to assess all participants through the administration of the following assessment tools: The Child Depression Inventory-CDI Spanish version. The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-SCAS standardized on a sample of Mexican children, the Child PTSD Symptom Scale-CPSS Spanish version, and the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits-ICU Spanish version.
Procedure The MC group was assessed before and after the implementation of Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy TF-CBT using clinical scales and an emotion paradigm through functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI. The HC group was also assessed and scanned twice.
Of the total sample, 14 MC completed the TF-CBT modules and came in for their post-treatment assessment session. In addition, the 10 HC who, according to their parents, had not completed any type of psychological intervention during those 4 months, and still met the inclusion criteria for the initial control group were selected and returned for their post-evaluation session.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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NON_RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
BASIC_SCIENCE
NONE
Study Groups
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Maltreated children
The Maltreated Children group was assessed before and after a psychological intervention using clinical scales (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and Callous unemotional traits) and an emotion paradigm through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The psychological intervention implemented with the maltreated group was the Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
For this study, 12 to 16 sessions of 60-90 min each, were implemented once a week for 4 months. 14 out of 15 maltreated children completed the TF-CBT units and one week after that, they underwent the post-treatment assessment.
Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy
TF-CBT consisted of 8 units in which different issues realted to trauma are reviewed. Units are: psychoeducation and parenting skills, relaxation techniques, affective expression and regulation, cognitive coping and processing, trauma narrative and processing, in vivo exposure, co-joint sessions and enhancing safety and future growth.
Healthy Control group
This group did not have any records of maltreatment. They were assessed using clinical scales (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and Callous unemotional traits) and an emotion paradigm through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Their scores and brain images were compared with the maltreatment group before this group underwent psychological treatment.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy
TF-CBT consisted of 8 units in which different issues realted to trauma are reviewed. Units are: psychoeducation and parenting skills, relaxation techniques, affective expression and regulation, cognitive coping and processing, trauma narrative and processing, in vivo exposure, co-joint sessions and enhancing safety and future growth.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Ages between 7 to 12 years old
* History of trauma or abuse
* Symptoms of Post traumatic stress disorder
* Symptoms of anxiety
For healthy control (HC)
* Ages between 7 to 12 years old
* No history of trauma or abuse
* Absence or low symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Absence or low symptoms of anxiety
Exclusion Criteria
7 Years
12 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Feggy Ostrosky Shejet
Head of Neuropsychology and Psychophisiology Laboratory
Principal Investigators
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Feggy Ostrosky, Ph.D.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Facultad de Psicología UNAM
Locations
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Facultad de Psicología UNAM
Mexico City, , Mexico
Countries
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References
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Admon R, Milad MR, Hendler T. A causal model of post-traumatic stress disorder: disentangling predisposed from acquired neural abnormalities. Trends Cogn Sci. 2013 Jul;17(7):337-47. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2013.05.005. Epub 2013 Jun 12.
Akiki TJ, Averill CL, Abdallah CG. A Network-Based Neurobiological Model of PTSD: Evidence From Structural and Functional Neuroimaging Studies. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017 Sep 19;19(11):81. doi: 10.1007/s11920-017-0840-4.
Blair RJ, Leibenluft E, Pine DS. Conduct disorder and callous-unemotional traits in youth. N Engl J Med. 2014 Dec 4;371(23):2207-16. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1315612.
Blair, R. J. R., Mitchell, D. G. V., Peschardt, K. S., Colledge, E., Leonard, R. A., Shine, J. H., Murray, L. K., & Perrett, D. I. (2004). Reduced sensitivity to others' fearful expressions in psychopathic individuals. Personality and Individual Differences, 37, 1111-1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2003.10.008
Bustos, P., Rincón, P., & Aedo, J. (2009). Validación Preliminar de la Escala Infantil de Síntomas del Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (Child PTSD Symptom Scale, CPSS) en Niños/as y Adolescentes Víctimas de Violencia Sexual. Psykhe (Santiago), 18(2). https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-22282009000200008
Deblinger E, Mannarino AP, Cohen JA, Runyon MK, Steer RA. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children: impact of the trauma narrative and treatment length. Depress Anxiety. 2011 Jan;28(1):67-75. doi: 10.1002/da.20744. Epub 2010 Sep 9.
Decety, J. (2015). The neural pathways, development and functions of empathy. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 3, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2014.12.001
Kimonis ER, Goulter N, Hawes DJ, Wilbur RR, Groer MW. Neuroendocrine factors distinguish juvenile psychopathy variants. Dev Psychobiol. 2017 Mar;59(2):161-173. doi: 10.1002/dev.21473. Epub 2016 Sep 12.
Patriat R, Birn RM, Keding TJ, Herringa RJ. Default-Mode Network Abnormalities in Pediatric Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016 Apr;55(4):319-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.01.010. Epub 2016 Feb 4.
Viding E, Fontaine NM, Oliver BR, Plomin R. Negative parental discipline, conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits: monozygotic twin differences study. Br J Psychiatry. 2009 Nov;195(5):414-9. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061192.
Weems CF, Russell JD, Neill EL, McCurdy BH. Annual Research Review: Pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder from a neurodevelopmental network perspective. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2019 Apr;60(4):395-408. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12996. Epub 2018 Oct 25.
Other Identifiers
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A1-S-13501
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id