title: Effects of multidimensional treatment foster care on psychotic symptoms in girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neurodevelopmental theories of psychosis highlight the potential benefits of early intervention, prevention, and/or preemption. How early intervention should take place has not been established, nor whether interventions based on social learning principles can have preemptive effects. The objective was to test whether a comprehensive psychosocial intervention can significantly alter psychotic symptom trajectories during adolescence-a period of heightened risk for a wide range of psychopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) for delinquent adolescent girls. Assessment of psychotic symptoms took place at baseline and then 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-baseline using a standardized self-report instrument (Brief Symptom Inventory). A second source of information about psychotic symptoms was obtained at baseline or 12 months, and again at 24 months using a structured diagnostic interview (the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children [DISC]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant benefits for MTFC over treatment as usual for psychosis symptoms were observed over a 24-month period. Findings were replicated across both measures. Effects were independent of substance use and initial symptom severity and persisted beyond the initial intervention period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ameliorating nonclinical psychotic symptoms trajectories beginning in mid-adolescence via a multifaceted psychosocial intervention is possible. Developmental research on nonclinical psychotic symptoms and their prognostic value should be complemented by more psychosocial intervention research aimed at modifying these symptom trajectories early in their natural history. Clinical trial registration information-Juvenile Justice Girls Randomized Control Trial: Young Adult Follow-up; http://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01341626.
authors.affiliation: Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Richie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulton
authors.affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Van Ryzin
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK; Institute of Genetic Neurobiological and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia; and the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales.
authors.forename: Gordon T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Harold
authors.affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arseneault
authors.affiliation: University of Oregon and the Oregon Social Learning Center. Electronic address: leve@uoregon.edu.
authors.forename: Leslie D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Leve
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: MTFC; RCT; girls; juvenile justice; psychotic symptoms