Effectiveness of an Anti-bullying Intervention for Adolescent Perpetrators
Condition: Conduct Disorder
MeSH terms: Conduct Disorder; Bullying
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The investigators recruited school bullying perpetrators from the age of 12 to 17 by referral
      from the local police department. An anti-bullying intervention based on cognitive-behavioral
      therapy (CBT) principles was conducted, and addressed issues related to impulse control,
      empathy and communication enhancement. All participants completed brain magnetic resonance
      imaging, neurocognitive tests, and questionnaires before and after the intervention.
    

Detailed description: 
      The present study included previous perpetrators of school bullying who were convicted for a
      minor offense, including physical or verbal assaults or theft, and who were referred by the
      police to participate in an anti-bullying intervention. The program consisted of 8 sessions
      over 4 weeks and was conducted by a board-certified psychiatrist and a therapist with
      previous training in psychosocial treatments. The intervention was based on CBT principles
      and addressed various factors that have been associated with perpetrators of school bullying,
      including impulse control, perspective taking (empathy), and the enhancement of communication
      skills.

      All participants completed the Korean Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and
      Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) administered by board-certified child
      and adolescent psychiatrists. The validity and reliability of the original and Korean
      versions of the K-SADS-PL have been established. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was measured
      using the Korean Educational Developmental Institute's Wechsler Intelligence Scale for
      Children.

      Prior to and after participation in the program, all participants underwent brain magnetic
      resonance imaging (structural and functional) and completed neurocognitive tests that
      included the continuous performance test (CPT), the Stroop Word and Color Test, and the
      Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The parents of the participants completed questionnaires
      including the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Written informed consent was obtained from the
      parents and the participants after sufficient explanation of the study. The study protocol
      was approved by the institutional review board of the Seoul National University Hospital.
    

Intervention name(s): Anti-bullying intervention
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The title of each session were as follows :
Introduction of intervention and setting rules, building rapport
Understanding school bullying (The definition of school bullying and proper coping strategies)
Empathy of others ( Practice of understanding victims of school bullying)
Impulse control 1 (Understanding my anger patterns, finding one's true feelings behind that anger)
Impulse control 2 (Finding irrational thoughts that lead to anger and correction of them)
Conflict management (Understanding one's pattern of dealing with conflicts, finding effective strategies)
Communication skills enhancement
Increasing self esteem
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment