Violence Prevention Programs for Aggression

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Daniela Robles

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

4840 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to compare two versions of Mental Health Enhanced Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in reducing aggression in middle school students.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment PBIS-MH, RED for preventing aggression?

Research shows that school-based programs can significantly reduce aggressive behavior, especially in high-risk youth, and that comprehensive interventions like the Positive Life Changes program can decrease aggression in adolescents. Additionally, anger treatment in forensic settings has been effective in reducing physical assaults, suggesting that similar approaches may help in violence prevention. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the violence prevention program safe for humans?

The studies reviewed focus on the effectiveness of violence prevention programs in schools, such as PBIS, but do not report any specific safety concerns for participants. These programs are generally implemented in school settings and aim to improve behavior and mental health without noted adverse effects. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the treatment PBIS-MH, RED differ from other violence prevention treatments?

The treatment PBIS-MH, RED is unique because it combines Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with mental health components, focusing on both behavior and mental health aspects to prevent aggression. This dual approach is different from other programs that may focus solely on behavioral strategies or mental health interventions separately. ^{11 12 13 14 15}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for middle school teachers and their students in 6th and 7th grades at participating schools. Students with intellectual disabilities, very limited reading abilities, or those in foster care are not eligible to participate.

Inclusion Criteria

for teacher participants: teacher at a study school

I am a student in the 6th or 7th grade at a school participating in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

for student participants: intellectual disabilities, very limited reading abilities, or in foster care

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Implementation of Mental Health Enhanced Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports with or without racial/ethnic discrimination interventions

2 school years

Ongoing school-based activities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in aggression and experiences of discrimination

End of each school year

Data collection at fall and spring of each year

Treatment Details

Interventions

• PBIS-MH
• RED

Trial Overview The study is testing two programs aimed at reducing aggression among middle schoolers: Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Interventions (RED) and a mental health-focused version of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS-MH).

Participant Groups

Group I: Mental Health-Enhanced PBIS + RED Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

PBIS-MH+RED involves the components of PBIS-MH integrated with racial/ethnic discrimination interventions (RED) to address multiple forms of school-based racial and ethnic discrimination. 1) Unintentional bias training for school personnel, involving teaching participants to conceptualize prejudice as well as strategies to reduce bias. 2) Unintentional bias training for students that is delivered in a classroom in a developmentally appropriate lesson format. 3) Vulnerable Decision Point process: Leadership teams are trained to reduce disparities in school discipline by a) using disaggregated student discipline data to identify particular settings or practices that are drivers for racial/ethnic disproportionality in a school and b) using iterative problem-solving to address these drivers. 4) Teacher stress reduction training where they are provided with strategies to reduce stress.

Group II: Mental Health-Enhanced PBIS Active Control 1 Intervention

Mental health-enhanced Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS-MH) integrates mental health into the three core elements of PBIS. 1) School-based mental health clinicians are included on leadership teams. 2) Data from teacher and student perceived school climate, as well as universal screening for aggression and mental health difficulties, are used to inform intervention decision-making. 3) Evidence-based mental health prevention and intervention practices are layered into PBIS' three-tiered continuum.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Medical University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

994

Recruited

7,408,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Findings from Research

The Aban Aya Youth Project's social development classroom curriculum (SDC) effectively limited the growth of violent behaviors among students, regardless of their age, compared to a control group.

The school/family/community (SC) intervention only reduced violence growth in older participants, indicating that interventions may need to engage multiple social systems, especially for highly mobile youth who may not receive consistent exposure to the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of age and type of intervention on youth violent behaviors. Jagers, RJ., Morgan-Lopez, AA., Flay, BR.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Making behavioral change the outcome measure in research on violence. [2004]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of school-based intervention programs on aggressive behavior: a meta-analysis. [2019]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of age and type of intervention on youth violent behaviors. [2021]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief report: piloting the Positive Life Changes (PLC) program for at-risk adolescents. [2018]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reduction of assaultive behavior following anger treatment of forensic hospital patients with intellectual disabilities. [2016]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes of an early intervention program for children with disruptive behaviour. [2019]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Primary prevention mental health programs for children and adolescents: a meta-analytic review. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of the Positive Action programme on problem behaviours in elementary school students: a matched-pair randomised control trial in Chicago. [2011]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study protocol: cluster randomized trial of consultation strategies for the sustainment of mental health interventions in under-resourced urban schools: rationale, design, and methods. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial on the interconnected systems framework for school mental health and PBIS: Focus on proximal variables and school discipline. [2022]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Early violence prevention programs: implications for violence prevention against girls and women. [2006]

12. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Violence prevention in childhood and adolescence--a brief overview]. [2017]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention of Aggression, Violence, and Mental Health Problems in Childhood and Adolescence: Innovative and Sustainable Approaches from Around the World: Introduction and Overview. [2018]

14. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

School-based violence prevention programs: systematic review of secondary prevention trials. [2019]

15. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of the Safer Bars programme on physical aggression in bars: results of a randomized controlled trial. [2007]