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Heart Rate and Treatment Effect in Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders

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Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Holger Weidenauer, Annette Fetzer and Tanja Besier for their support in study management and data evaluation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt, Deutschordenstrasse 50, 60528, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    Christina Stadler, Dörte Grasmann, Martin Holtmann & Fritz Poustka

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    Dörte Grasmann & Jörg M. Fegert

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, Basel, Swizerland

    Klaus Schmeck

Authors
  1. Christina Stadler
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  2. Dörte Grasmann
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  3. Jörg M. Fegert
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  4. Martin Holtmann
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  5. Fritz Poustka
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  6. Klaus Schmeck
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Correspondence to Christina Stadler.

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Stadler, C., Grasmann, D., Fegert, J.M. et al. Heart Rate and Treatment Effect in Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 39, 299–309 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-007-0089-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-007-0089-y

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