There are promising effects from group intervention for clinically aggressive youth on probation

Commentary on: Kendall AD, Emerson EM, Hartmann WE, et al. A two-week psychosocial intervention reduces future aggression and incarceration in clinically aggressive juvenile offenders. J Am Acad Child Psy 2017;56:1053-61.

What is already known on this topic

In the USA, approximately 5% of youth who engage in serious and violent illegal behaviour receive evidence-based interventions,1 which are generally complex and expensive to implement in community settings.2 Brief interventions that teach youth to recognise and respond to triggers for aggressive behaviour show promise for reducing the social and economic impact of violence by youth.3 This study4 examined one such intervention.

Methods of the study

Youth (N=310) on probation in Chicago, Illinois were recruited through evening reporting centres (ERCs) and, for girls only, fliers were distributed by probation officers. Youth ranged from 13 to 17 years old and were predominantly African-American, male and had low-income; a subset (n=71) of youth self-reported…

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