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Nutzungsbedingungen Summary Effectiveness of Early Prevention Programs in Germany: A Systematic Review and a Meta-AnalysisThe number of scientific evaluations of early preventions programs has considerably increased since the foundation of the national center of early prevention in Germany. Early primary and secondary intervention programs are designed to address parents with little children (prenatal until three years) to improve the parent-child-relationship and parental educational competencies. This is thought to enhance child development and to avoid maltreatment in terms of neglect and abuse. During a systematic review, six data-bases were searched for publications on studies about the effectiveness of early prevention programs in Germany between 2003 and 2013. Eight studies were found to fulfill inclusion criteria and were included in a meta-analysis. In comparison to the control groups the early prevention programs had a small effect on maternal symptom burden (d = 0.28), however there was no effect on maternal competences (d = 0.10) and perceived social support (d = -0.06). In addition, there was no effect on psychic child development (d = 0.05) but no effect on the physical development of the children (d = 0.00). Results are discussed as preliminary due to a current lack of a sufficient amount of studies in Germany.Prax. Kinderpsychol. Kinderpsychiat. 62/2013, 598-619 Keywords systematic review -early intervention, meta-analysis -prevention -effectiveness Zusammenfassung

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Frühe Hilfen richten sich primär und sekundär präventiv an Eltern mit kleinen Kindern (pränatal bis drei Jahre) und sollen die Beziehungs- und Erziehungskompetenz verbessern, um Kindern gute Entwicklungen zu ermöglichen sowie Kindesmisshandlung und Vernachlässigung zu verhindern. Im Rahmen eines narrativen Review wurden sechs Datenbanken für den Zeitraum zwischen 2003 und 2013 zu Studien zur Programmwirksamkeit Früher Hilfen in Deutschland durchsucht. Die Einschlusskriterien erfüllten 8 Studien, deren Forschungsdesigns, Studiendurchführung und Programmeffekte zusammengefasst wurden. Die Studienqualität wird als heterogen eingeschätzt; besonderer Verbesserungsbedarf wird hinsichtlich der Adhärenzprüfung, der Randomisierung der Teilnehmerinnen und der Kontrolle von Allegiance-Effekten diskutiert.

Background: Due to its severe negative consequences, human violence has been targeted by a vast number of studies. Yet, neurobiological mechanisms underlying violence are still widely unclear and it seems necessary to aim for high ecological validity to learn about mechanisms contributing to violence in real life. Methods:The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated the neurofunction of individuals with a history of violent offenses compared with that of controls using a laboratory paradigm requesting individuals to empathically engage in videos depicting provocative aggressive and positive social interactions from a first-person perspective. Results:The contrast of aggressive vs. positive scenarios revealed midbrain activation patterns associated with caudal periaqueductal gray (PAG) in violent offenders; In controls, the rostral PAG was involved. Additionally, only in controls, this contrast revealed an involvement of the amygdaloidal complex. Moreover, in violent offenders the contrast of positive vs. aggressive situations revealed an involvement of areas in the insula, post-central gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex. Conclusions:Our results support findings on the differential role of PAG subdivisions in response to threat and point to altered processing of positive social interactions in violent offenders. They further support the notion that changes in PAG recruitment might contribute to violent individuals "taking action" instead of freezing in case of threatening situations.