title: Reducing recidivism and symptoms in emerging adults with serious mental health conditions and justice system involvement.
abstract: The peak years of offending in the general population and among those with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) are during emerging adulthood. There currently are no evidence-based interventions for reducing offending behavior among 18-21 year olds, with or without SMHC. This open trial examined outcomes from an adaptation of Multisystemic Therapy (MST), an effective juvenile recidivism reduction intervention, modified for use with emerging adults with SMHC and recent justice system involvement. MST for emerging adults (MST-EA) targets MH symptoms, recidivism, problem substance use, and young adult functional capacities. All study participants (n = 41) were aged 17-20 and had a MH diagnosis and recent arrest or incarceration. Implementation outcomes indicated that MST-EA was delivered with strong fidelity, client satisfaction was high, and the majority of participants successfully completed the intervention. Research retention rates also were high. Pre-post-analyses revealed significant reductions in participants' MH symptoms, justice system involvement, and associations with antisocial peers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Learning and Working During the Transition to Adulthood, Systems and Psychosocial Advances Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA, Maryann.Davis@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: Maryann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Ashli J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sheidow
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McCart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008603:Mental Health; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010379:Peer Group; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012935:Social Justice; D055815:Young Adult