Long-term follow-up to a randomized clinical trial of multisystemic therapy with serious and violent juvenile offenders.
In this study, the authors examined the long-term criminal activity of 176 youths who had participated in either multisystemic therapy (MST) or individual therapy (IT) in a randomized clinical trial (C. M. Borduin et al., 1995). Arrest and incarceration data were obtained on average 13.7 (range = 10.2-15.9) years later when participants were on average 28.8 years old. Results show that MST participants had significantly lower recidivism rates at follow-up than did their counterparts who participated in IT (50% vs. 81%, respectively). Moreover, MST participants had 54% fewer arrests and 57% fewer days of confinement in adult detention facilities. This investigation represents the longest follow-up to date of a MST clinical trial and suggests that MST is relatively effective in reducing criminal activity among serious and violent juvenile offenders.
Schaeffer
Cindy M
CM
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. cschaeff@umbc.edu
Borduin
Charles M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004645:Empathy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors