Controlling Offensive Behavior Using Narrative Exposure Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Former Street Children. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crombach, Anselm; Elbert, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Clinical psychological science. Volume 3:Number 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 270
• Page End: 282
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: violent behavior -- former street children -- narrative exposure therapy -- appetitive aggression -- traumatic stress; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1177/2167702614534239
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2167-7026

Abstract

Insecure and violent environments foster two different forms of aggressive behavior: reactive aggressive responding, such as fearful or angry impulsive behavior to perceived threats, and appetitive aggression, which encompasses violence-related feelings of power, excitement, and pleasure. We tested whether forensic offender rehabilitation narrative exposure therapy (FORNET; five sessions) would reduce involvement in everyday violence and produce beneficial effects for mental and physical health. In a Burundian residential center for former street children, we identified a subset of 32 male youths (mean age = 17 years) who scored highly in appetitive aggression. We conducted a randomized controlled trial by assigning matched pairs to receive either FORNET or treatment as usual. During the follow-up (4–7 months after completing treatment), the 16 youths who received FORNET reported having committed significantly fewer offenses (Hedges's g = 0.62) and presented with fewer physical-health complaints (Hedges's g = 0.56) than did their matched control participants.