Aggressotype
Which factors play a role in aggressive behaviour?
The Aggressotype research study is a large-scale international study of the causes of various types of aggressive behaviour. Areas investigated as part of this study include the role of behavioural aspects, genes, information processing, (neuro)biological processes and brain function.
Background
Some children are short-tempered, quick to anger or prone to breaking things. Others display aggressive behaviour to achieve something or to avoid danger. However, too much aggression or behaviour that crosses a line (e.g. stealing or lying) can have negative consequences. For the individual child, for their family, but also for society. Aggressive behaviour can have many different causes. Both predisposition (our genes) and environmental factors play a role. At the same time, there are different types of aggressive behaviour: while one child may be more inclined to become emotionally aggressive in response to their environment, another child may be more inherently aggressive in order to achieve certain goals.
The research study
Within the Aggressotype research study we have collected data by using computer tasks, genetic information (blood samples), questionnaires and the MRI scanner to examine the functioning of the brain. We have compared this information between children and young people with and without aggressive behavior. The relationship between these characteristics and different forms of aggressive behavior was also investigated.
This research was conducted in order to discover why some children become aggressive and to identify the children most likely to display aggressive behaviour. The ultimate purpose of the research was to help improve the treatment of aggressive behaviour.
Data collection was carried out during brain research at Accare from May 2016 to June 2017. From the various centers across Europe, we looked for a total of 190 children and young people between 8 and 19 years old with clearly aggressive behavior or a behavioral disorder (ODD) or a cross-norm behavioral disorder (also called conduct disorder or CD). In addition, we looked for 110 control children and adolescents without aggressive behavior. Within Accare, a total of 36 children and young people between 8 and 18 years old participated, of which 27 showed clearly aggressive behavior or had a behavioral disorder.
Collaboration
The research study is funded by the European Commission (FP7 programme) and is being conducted in over 11 European countries and 20 clinical sites. In the Netherlands, the research involves collaboration between Accare, the University Medical Centre Groningen, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Donders Institute Nijmegen.
Results
Further information and results can be found on the research study website.