Family therapy for adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes: initial test of clinical significance.
OBJECTIVE
We examined a structured family therapy approach in promoting clinically meaningful improvements in parent-adolescent conflict in adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes.


METHODS
Eighteen adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes and their parent(s) participated in 10 sessions of home-based Behavioral Family Systems Therapy (BFST). Outcome comparisons were made using a sample of adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes (n = 40) from a previous study. Clinically significant improvements were determined by calculating SD differences between treatment and comparison groups on measures of diabetes-related and general parent-adolescent conflict.


RESULTS
Home-based BFST produced change in diabetes-related family conflict ranging from 1/3 to 1/2 SD and general family conflict ranging from 1/3 to 3/4 SD.


CONCLUSIONS
BFST produced change in family conflict, a variable shown through previous research to relate to treatment adherence in adolescents with diabetes. The test of clinical significance represents an example of a method useful for pediatric research.
Harris
Michael A
MA
Department of Pediatrics/CDRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA. harrismi@ohsu.edu
Freeman
Kurt A
KA
Beers
Megan
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003142:Communication; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011340:Problem Solving; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human