title: Families changing families: the protective function of multi-family therapy for children in education.
abstract: The Marlborough Family Education Centre (MFEC) uses a specific multi-family group approach with families where children exhibit (primarily) conduct problems and function poorly in school. Research indicates that failure to intervene with these children carries great potential cost to both the family and society. Outcomes for 50 families receiving intervention from the MFEC were compared with a control group of 28 who had access to a range of interventions, but not the multi-family group approach pioneered by the MFEC. Data on child and family social, emotional and behavioural functioning were collected at the point of referral, and at 6 and 12 months. Parents of children receiving support from the MFEC reported statistically and clinically significant improvements in their children that were maintained at 12 months whereas there was no change in the control group. In addition, measures of family functioning were fairly stable for the MFEC group, while the control group showed significant deterioration over the same time period. Other results were not significant. These findings are interpreted within the context of early intervention. The methodological limitations of the study are considered and suggestions for future research are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK Emma.Morris@annafreud.org.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Corin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Huray
authors.affiliation: Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skagerberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Herne Bay, UK.
authors.forename: Aafke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ninteman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Behaviour problems; children; multi-family therapy; parenting; school