Heart rate and treatment effect in children with disruptive behavior disorders.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To examine whether children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs; hyperkinetic conduct disorder, conduct disorder, hyperkinetic disorder) characterized by low heart rate profit less from an intensive cognitive behavioral intervention aimed at reducing impulsive, oppositional and aggressive behavior problems.

METHOD:
Basal heart rate was studied in twenty-three children (aged 7-12 years) with DBD at the beginning of intervention comprising an intensive day-care treatment and parent training. The disruptive behavior of the child was assessed before treatment and after termination (12 weeks later). Therapy responders and non-responders were compared in regard to heart rate and other risk factors (cognitive functioning and socio-economic status).

RESULTS:
Statistical analyses yielded evidence for a significant reduction of disruptive problem behaviors (aggression, delinquency) that is more prominent in DBD children with high heart rate scores compared to patients with low heart rate scores. Heart rate was significantly lower in children who did not profit from therapy. A logistic regression analysis revealed that heart rate is a significant predictor for therapy success whereas other risk factors had no impact on therapy success.

CONCLUSION:
Further studies investigating biological and psychosocial predictors of treatment effectiveness are necessary. In addition, it might be helpful to consider different subtypes of aggressive behavior for selecting the best possible treatment options.

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Author information

Author/s: Stadler, Christina (C); Grasmann, Dörte (D); Fegert, Jörg M (JM); Holtmann, Martin (M); Poustka, Fritz (F); Schmeck, Klaus (K);

Affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt, Deutschordenstrasse 50, 60528, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Christina.Stadler@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Child psychiatry and human development (Child Psychiatry Hum Dev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Sep; vol 39 (issue 3) : pp 299-309

Dates: Created 2008/06/12; Completed 2008/08/13;

PMID: 18058222, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aggression - psychology
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - epidemiology; physiopathology; therapy
Child
Cognitive Therapy - methods

Female
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
Male
Treatment Outcome

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