Multidimensional family therapy for young adolescent substance abuse: twelve-month outcomes of a randomized controlled trial.
Research has established the dangers of early onset substance use for young adolescents and its links to a host of developmental problems. Because critical developmental detours can begin or be exacerbated during early adolescence, specialized interventions that target known risk and protective factors in this period are needed. This controlled trial (n = 83) provided an experimental test comparing multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) and a peer group intervention with young teens. Participants were clinically referred, were of low income, and were mostly ethnic minority adolescents (average age = 13.73 years). Treatments were manual guided, lasted 4 months, and were delivered by community agency therapists. Adolescents and parents were assessed at intake, at 6-weeks post-intake, at discharge, and at 6 and 12 months following treatment intake. Latent growth curve modeling analyses demonstrated the superior effectiveness of MDFT over the 12-month follow-up in reducing substance use (effect size: substance use frequency, d = 0.77; substance use problems, d = 0.74), delinquency (d = 0.31), and internalized distress (d = 0.54), and in reducing risk in family, peer, and school domains (d = 0.27, 0.67, and 0.35, respectively) among young adolescents.
Liddle
Howard A
HA
Center for Treatment Research on Adolescent Drug Abuse, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136, USA. HLiddle@med.miami.edu
Rowe
Cynthia L
CL
Dakof
Gayle A
GA
Henderson
Craig E
CE
Greenbaum
Paul E
PE
D000293:Adolescent; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome