Cognitive Behavioral Aggression Treatment
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 55 |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | May 2010 |
| End Date: | February 2016 |
Cognitive Behavioral Aggression Treatment: Effects on Brain and Behavior
Aggressive behavior is a leading worldwide public health problem. Despite this, relatively
little is known about how to best treat individuals who are highly angry and aggressive. A
rich literature suggests that aggression is associated with a tendency to interpret
situations as threatening or hostile even when they are not. This process is governed by a
prefrontal-limbic circuit in the brain. A goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to reduce
these kinds of hostile biases. Preliminary data by the PI suggests a 12- session cognitive
behavioral aggression treatment (CBAT) may help reduce aggressive behavior and underlying
hostile biases associated with affective aggression. To assess the efficacy of this
treatment, 120 adults with high levels of anger and aggression will receive 12 sessions of
either CBAT or supportive psychotherapy. All subjects will monitor their anger and
aggressive behavior throughout the treatment electronic diaries. Subjects will also complete
questionnaires and computer tasks to assess anger, hostile biases and related processes
1-week before treatment begins, and again 1-week, 6-months and 1-year after treatment ends.
In addition, to understand the effects of CBAT on the brain, subjects will have their brains
scanned (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) while they look at emotional pictures and
complete computer tasks. The brain scans will occur once before treatment starts and once
after treatment ends.
Our hypotheses are:
1. CBAT will reduce anger, aggression and hostile biases more than supportive therapy.
2. CBAT will decrease limbic activation and increase prefrontal activation to emotional
pictures more than supportive therapy.
little is known about how to best treat individuals who are highly angry and aggressive. A
rich literature suggests that aggression is associated with a tendency to interpret
situations as threatening or hostile even when they are not. This process is governed by a
prefrontal-limbic circuit in the brain. A goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to reduce
these kinds of hostile biases. Preliminary data by the PI suggests a 12- session cognitive
behavioral aggression treatment (CBAT) may help reduce aggressive behavior and underlying
hostile biases associated with affective aggression. To assess the efficacy of this
treatment, 120 adults with high levels of anger and aggression will receive 12 sessions of
either CBAT or supportive psychotherapy. All subjects will monitor their anger and
aggressive behavior throughout the treatment electronic diaries. Subjects will also complete
questionnaires and computer tasks to assess anger, hostile biases and related processes
1-week before treatment begins, and again 1-week, 6-months and 1-year after treatment ends.
In addition, to understand the effects of CBAT on the brain, subjects will have their brains
scanned (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) while they look at emotional pictures and
complete computer tasks. The brain scans will occur once before treatment starts and once
after treatment ends.
Our hypotheses are:
1. CBAT will reduce anger, aggression and hostile biases more than supportive therapy.
2. CBAT will decrease limbic activation and increase prefrontal activation to emotional
pictures more than supportive therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Three or more acts of physical aggression (assault / property destruction) in past
six months
- Aggression related distress and/or impairment
- Meets Criteria for Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Exclusion Criteria:
- Life History of DSM-IV Axis Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, Delusional disorder,
Organic disorder, or Mental Retardation
- Current DSM-IV Major Depressive Episode, Alcohol Dependence or other Drug Dependence
- Current (past month) psychotropic medication use
- Current severe suicidal or homicidal ideation necessitating immediate medical
intervention
- Current pregnancy or nursing, or existence of any medical condition that would deem
the subject ineligible to undergo an fMRI (e.g., metal pins)
- Two consecutive positive Expired Breathalyzer Alcohol or Urine Drug toxicological
screens
- Unable or unwilling to cooperate with study protocol (e.g., keep appointments,
complete rating forms, read and understand informed consent).
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