title: Treatment techniques and outcomes in multidimensional family therapy for adolescent behavior problems.
abstract: The link between treatment techniques and long-term treatment outcome was examined in an empirically supported family-based treatment for adolescent drug abuse. Observational ratings of therapist interventions were used to predict outcomes at 6 and 12 months posttreatment for 63 families receiving multidimensional family therapy. Greater use of in-session family-focused techniques predicted reduction in internalizing symptoms and improvement in family cohesion. Greater use of family-focused techniques also predicted reduced externalizing symptoms and family conflict, but only when adolescent focus was also high. In addition, greater use of adolescent-focused techniques predicted improvement in family cohesion and family conflict. Results suggest that both individual and multiperson interventions can exert an influential role in family-based therapy for clinically referred adolescents.
authors.affiliation: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, New York, NY 10017, USA. ahogue@casacolumbia.org
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hogue
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dauber
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samuolis
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Liddle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005195:Family Relations; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*