NCT01625117

Mental Health and Aggression in Congolese Ex-combatants

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 38 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Konstanz · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 16 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Detailed 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.

Conditions

• Appetitive Aggression
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-05-01
• Primary completion: 2012-05-01
• Completion: 2012-09-01
• First posted: 2012-06-21
• Last updated: 2013-06-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Republic of the Congo