Aggression among juvenile offenders. Mental and Behavioural Disorders Other problems related to lifestyle
Conditions
Interventions
Participants will be randomised to receive either active or placebo emotion recognition training.
The computerised intervention comprises three phases: first assessment, training and
Sponsors
University of Nottingham (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Juvenile offenders detained at a secure children?s home in South Wales 2. Aged between 10 and 17 years old 3. A score of at least 20 on an aggression rating scale
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Participants with current psychotic symptoms, mood disorder or autism spectrum disorder 2. Concerns of the care planning team about the young person?s ability to participate
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Staff Rating Scale of Young Person?s Aggression - this scale is based on a measure used by McMurran (2007), which examined aggression in adult male offenders, modified for use with adolescents. It comprises six behavioural categories: 1. Looking at someone in an aggressive way 2. Deliberately getting in someone?s way 3. Being verbally aggressive 4. Being aggressive in front of someone without touching them (throwing objects, spitting, slamming doors etc.) 5. Hitting, punching or kicking someone 6. Using something as a weapon to hit someone Each participants? key worker will be required to make a judgment about how often the participant has displayed the corresponding aggressive behaviour during the day, and rate each of the six items on a scale of 0 (not present at all) to 100 (present all the time). The measure will be completed daily for a month pre-intervention to establish a base rate of aggression, and daily for a month post-intervention to assess whether there has been any behaviour change. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Participant Behaviour Diary This diary is a self-report version of the Staff Rating Scale described above. The participants record any instances of aggressive behaviour they display during each day of the week and are instructed to tick the appropriate box each time they acted in an aggressive manner, defined by one of the six categories. The measure will be completed daily for a month pre-intervention to establish a base rate of aggression, and daily for a month post-intervention to assess whether there has been any behaviour change. 2. Frequency of ?Talk-Times? A ?talk-time? is an early intervention strategy used by members of staff when they identify that a young person is starting to become disruptive or unruly. Each ?talk-time? is noted in the staff daily recordings on each of the young people and this record will be summarized daily for a period of one month pre-intervention to establish a base rate of aggression, and or a month post-intervention to assess whether there has been any behaviour change. 3. Frequency of Sanctions A sanction is a formal means of reproving the young people for any infringement of the unit rules. This record will be summarized daily for a period of one month prior to the intervention to establish a base rate of aggressive behaviour, and for a month after completion of the intervention to assess whether there has been any change in aggressive behaviour over this period. 4. Frequency of Restraints A restraint is defined as any occasion when one or more staff members have to physically manage the behaviour of a young person. When a restraint takes place an official incident form is completed detailing the specifics of the event. This record will be summarized daily for a period of one month pre-intervention to establish a base rate of aggression, and for a month post-intervention to assess whether there has been any beha | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed