Treatment of Children With Peer Related Aggressive Behavior (ScouT)

Treatment of Children With Peer Related Aggressive Behavior With the Computer Based Treatment Program ScouT - a Randomized Controlled Trial

The efficacy of the computer based Treatment Program for Children with Aggressive Behaviour (Soziales computerunterstütztes Training für Kinder mit aggressivem Verhalten, ScouT) which is a child focused social competence training delivered in an individual format will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial with children aged 6 to 12 years with peer-related aggressive behaviour.

The German computer based Treatment Program for Children with Aggressive Behaviour (Soziales computerunterstütztes Training für Kinder mit aggressivem Verhalten, ScouT) aims at the therapy of children aged 6 to 12 years with peer-related aggressive behaviour, which results in a persistent impairment of the relationships to other children. Contrary to other treatment approaches, this intervention aims at the individual treatment of problem maintaining and moderating factors of aggressive behaviour. Depending on the individual problem maintaining factors the treatment aims to modify social cognitive information processing, social problem solving and behavioral social skills.

Methods: The efficacy will be tested in a randomized control group design with n=140 children. N=70 children will be treated in the first treatment phase (pre- to post1-assessment) of 16 weekly child-focused sessions with the treatment modules of ScouT. In the second treatment phase (post1- to post2- assessment) those children with sustained severe peer related aggressive behavior receive the comprehensive Treatment Program for Children with Aggressive Behaviour (Therapieprogramm für Kinder mit aggressivem Verhalten, THAV) which is a social competence training which combines patient- and parent-/teacher and peer-focused interventions with 16 child sessions and 6 parent-/teacher sessions. Those children with no severe peer related aggressive behavior receive 2 booster sessions of ScouT within a 16 week period.

The control group of n=70 children will receive in the first treatment phase (pre- to post1-assessment) an alternative child-focused intervention with a supportive Treatment Programm including techniques to activate resources of the child (Supportive Therapie zur Aktivierung von Ressourcen bei Kindern, STARK) with 16 weekly sessions. In the second treatment phase (post1- to post2- assessment) those children with sustained severe peer related aggressive behavior receive 16 weekly child-focused sessions with the treatment modules of ScouT . Those children with no severe peer related aggressive behavior receive 2 booster sessions of STARK within a 16 week period.

A follow-up assessment is conducted 12 months after post2-assessment. Outcome parameters are aggressive behaviour und comorbid symptoms as well as problem maintaining factors, psychosocial functioning, family burden, self-esteem and treatment satisfaction as rated by clinicians, parents, or teachers. Additionally problem solving is assessed by a newly developed problem-solving test. Moreover, variables of the treatment process are assessed. Additionally treatment process parameters are assessed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 6 - 12 years
• IQ>= 80
• Diagnoses (ICD-10): F91, F92, F90.1
• Elevated symptom score in the parent rated Symptom Checklist for Oppositional Defiant and Conduct Disorder (FBB-SSV) with Stanine ≥ 7 at pre-assessment
• Often conflicts with other children (clinical rating)
• Impaired social relationships / activities
• Parents agree in randomization (clinical rating) in medicated children no planned change of the medication

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other disorder is dominating
• Other active psychotherapy
• Severe mental disorder of the parents