BACKGROUND: Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) is a well-established treatment for adolescents showing both substance abuse and/or antisocial behavior. METHOD: The effectiveness of MDFT in reducing adolescents' substance abuse, delinquency, externalizing and internalizing psychopathology, and family malfunctioning was examined by means of a (three-level) meta-analysis, summarizing 61 effect sizes from 19 manuscripts (N = 1,488 participants). RESULTS: Compared with other therapies, the overall effect size of MDFT was significant, albeit small in magnitude (d = 0.24, p < .001), and similar across intervention outcome categories. Moderator analysis revealed that adolescents with high severity problems, including severe substance abuse and disruptive behavior disorder, benefited more from MDFT than adolescents with less severe conditions. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that MDFT is effective for adolescents with substance abuse, delinquency, and comorbid behavior problems. Subsequently, it is important to match specific characteristics of the adolescents, such as extent of impairment, with MDFT.
BACKGROUND: Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) is a well-established treatment for adolescents showing both substance abuse and/or antisocial behavior. METHOD: The effectiveness of MDFT in reducing adolescents' substance abuse, delinquency, externalizing and internalizing psychopathology, and family malfunctioning was examined by means of a (three-level) meta-analysis, summarizing 61 effect sizes from 19 manuscripts (N = 1,488 participants). RESULTS: Compared with other therapies, the overall effect size of MDFT was significant, albeit small in magnitude (d = 0.24, p < .001), and similar across intervention outcome categories. Moderator analysis revealed that adolescents with high severity problems, including severe substance abuse and disruptive behavior disorder, benefited more from MDFT than adolescents with less severe conditions. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that MDFT is effective for adolescents with substance abuse, delinquency, and comorbid behavior problems. Subsequently, it is important to match specific characteristics of the adolescents, such as extent of impairment, with MDFT.
Authors: Matthew C Fadus; Lindsay M Squeglia; Emilio A Valadez; Rachel L Tomko; Brittany E Bryant; Kevin M Gray Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2019-09-14 Impact factor: 5.285
Authors: Johanna Bailey Folk; Anna Harrison; Christopher Rodriguez; Amanda Wallace; Marina Tolou-Shams Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-04-30 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Thimo M van der Pol; Vincent Hendriks; Henk Rigter; Moran D Cohn; Theo A H Doreleijers; Lieke van Domburgh; Robert R J M Vermeiren Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2018-08-17 Impact factor: 3.033
Authors: Loïs Schenk; Miranda Sentse; Reshmi Marhe; Laura van Duin; Godfried Engbersen; Arne Popma; Sabine Severiens Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2021-12-09