A Two-Week Psychosocial Intervention Reduces Future Aggression and Incarceration in Clinically Aggressive Juvenile Offenders (original) (raw)
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Multisystemic therapy: an effective violence prevention approach for serious juvenile offenders
Journal of Adolescence, 1996
This article provides an overview of a treatment approach, Multisystemic Therapy (MST), that has demonstrated long-term reductions in criminal activity and violence among youth at high-risk for perpetrating violence. Importantly, central aspects of MST are consistent with the recent public health agenda of violence prevention in the United States. Moreover, as demonstrated from the findings of controlled clinical trials evaluating MST with serious juvenile offenders, the viability of the public health approach is supported.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1995
This article examined the long-term effects of multisystemic therapy (MST) vs. individual therapy (IT) on the prevention of criminal behavior and violent offending among 176 juvenile offenders at high risk for committing additional serious crimes. Results from multiagent, multimethod assessment batteries conducted before and after treatment showed that MST was more effective than IT in improving key family correlates of antisocial behavior and in ameliorating adjustment problems in individual family members. Moreover, results from a 4-year follow-up of rearrest data showed that MST was more effective than IT in preventing future criminal behavior, including violent offending. The implications of such findings for the design of violence prevention programs are discussed.
Multisystemic Treatment of Criminality and Violence in Adolescents
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1999
In 1996, the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado at Boulder initiated a project to identify ten violence prevention programs that met a very high scientific standard of program effectiveness. The objective was to identify outstanding programs, and to describe these interventions in a series of "Blueprints." This issue examines Functional Family Therapy (FFT) as a proven model program. FFT is an outcome-driven prevention/intervention program for youth who have demonstrated the entire range of maladaptive, acting out behaviors and related symptoms. (Available from Abstract: Functional Family Therapy with status delinquents has undergone careful scrutiny in well designed studies that included random assignment, realistic comparison treatment programs, formally trained therapists, and reasonable follow-up periods. This report describes three replications in which FFT has been extended to new populations, has utilized less formally trained therapists, and has been applied in new treatment contexts. Taken together, the replications provide important support for the generalizability of FFT across client and therapist populations. Abstract: This paper discusses the emergent success of multisystemic therapy (MST), a family-based therapeutic approach that has been viewed as a promising treatment for violence and other serious antiosical behaviors in adolescents. The success of MST can be attributed primarily to (1) the match between MST intervention foci and empirically identified correlates/causes of criminality and violence in adolescents, and (2) the flexible use of well-validated intervention strategies in the natural environment. Abstract: This study compared the efficacy of multisystemic therapy (MST) and individual therapy (IT) in the outpatient treatment of adolescent sexual offenders. Sixteen adolescent sexual offenders were randomly assigned to either MST or IT conditions. Youths in the MST and IT conditions received an average of 37 hours and 45 hours of treatment, respectively. Recidivism data were collected on all subjects at an approximately 3-year follow-up. Between-groups comparisons showed that significantly fewer subjects in the MST condition had been rearrested for sexual crimes and that the frequency of sexual rearrests was significantly lower in the MST condition than in the IT condition. The relative efficacy of MST was attributed to its emphasis on changing behavior and interpersonal relations within the offender's natural environment. Abstract: In this commentary, the author begins with a brief synopsis of findings from recent studies of the effectiveness of the system of care approach that is primarily conducted by service researchers. She then discusses evidence, from the clinical treatment research field, on the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments. Abstract: As pressure increases for the demonstration of effective treatment for children with mental disorders, it is essential that the field has an understanding of the evidence base. To address this aim, the authors searched the published literature for effective interventions for children and adolescents. Strong evidence was found for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety, and disruptive behavior disorders. Guidance from the field relevant to moving the evidence-based interventions into real-world clinical practice and further strengthening the research base will also need to address change in policy and clinical training. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of wraparound services versus conventional services for juvenile delinquent youth and create a predictive model that would assist the juvenile court system in correctly identifying youth at greatest risk of reoffending. The study employed a pretest/posttest, control group design, with follow-up assessments of youth court-ordered into community-based treatment programs for delinquent youth. Implications of the findings for improving community-based juvenile diversion programs for delinquent youth were explored and discussed. (authors) Abstract: In 1996, the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado at Boulder initiated a project to identify ten violence prevention programs that met a very high scientific standard of program effectiveness. The objective was to identify outstanding programs, and to describe these interventions in a series of "Blueprints." This issue examines Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) as a proven model program. MTFC is a cost effective alternative to group or residential treatment, incarceration, and hospitalization for adolescents who have problems with chronic antisocial behavior, emotional disturbance, and delinquency. (Available from Abstract: Research has shown that association with delinquent peers is a strong predictor of future involvement in delinquent and violent behavior. This bulletin describes an alternative to corrections and group care facilities. The program places juvenile offenders who require residential treatment with foster families who are trained to provide close supervision, fair limits, consistent consequences, and a supportive relationship, instead of with other delinquents. It is an approach that promotes both rehabilitation of juvenile offenders and public safety. Available from: www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org Resource #: 010114 (Journal Article: 9 pages) Citation: Chamberlain, P., Reid, J. Comparison of Two Community Alternatives to Incarceration for Chronic Juvenile Offenders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(4): 624-633, 1998. Abstract: The relative effectiveness of group care (GC) and multidimensional treatment foster care (MTFC) was compared in terms of their impact on criminal offending, incarceration rates, and program completion outcomes for 79 male adolescents who had histories of chronic and serious juvenile delinquency. Results show that boys who participated in MTFC had significantly fewer criminal referrals and returned to live with relatives more often. Resource #: 011415 (Journal Article: 3 pages) Citation: Chamberlain, P., Weinrott, M. Specialized Foster Care: Treating Seriously Emotionally Disturbed Children. Children Today:24-27, Jan. -Feb. 1990. Abstract: This article describes the treatment known as Specialized Foster Care (SFC), developed by Patricia Chamberlain in Eugene, Oregon. It discusses preliminary evaluation studies, along with other reports on specialized Foster Care programs and the growing number of new SFC programs being implemented each year throughout the U.S., which support the efficacy of the model. It seems clear that for severely troubled children and teenagers, placement and care in SFC can have all the direct, measurable human benefits associated with living in a nonrestrictive community setting, along with the advantage of being able to provide effective individualized treatment plans. Abstract: This article provides a brief overview of Multisystemic Therapy (MST), an intensive familyand community-based treatment approach that has garnered a great deal of attention for successfully treating juvenile delinquents and youth exhibiting serious emotional disturbance (SED). The demonstrated effectiveness of MST has been predicated on targeting the known correlates of anti-social behavior, incorporating empirically supported interventions, viewing caregivers as the key to long-term success, and mandating provider accountability. Studies have shown that these foci are the keys to change the developmental trajectories of serious and chronic offenders away from long-term criminal careers. Abstract: The authors examined two underlying assumptions of the family empowerment perspective. The first assumption is that a well-validated family-based treatment that explicitly aims to empower caregivers can do so. The second assumption is that increased caregiver empowerment should be associated with improved youth and family functioning. Results provided partial support for the underlying assumptions of the family empowerment perspective. The family-based treatment in comparison with usual services increased caregiver perceptions of empowerment at the service system level, but not at the family level. In addition increased empowerment at the family and service system levels were associated with improved family relations, but not with decreased youth behavior problems. The conceptual implications and limitations of the findings are discussed. Abstract: Multisystemic therapy (MST) is a family-based treatment model that has achieved high rates of treatment completion with youths who present serious clinical problems, and their families. The success of MST in engaging challenging families in treatment is due to programmatic commitments to family collaboration and partnership as well as to a conceptual process that delineates barriers to family engagement, develops and implements strategies to overcome these barriers, and evaluates the success of these strategies. This article provides an overview of the nonspecific/ universal engagement strategies used by MST therapists, frequently observed barriers to achieving therapist-family engagement, and specific strategies to overcome a sampling of these barriers. Abstract: In 1996, the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado at Boulder initiated a project to identify ten violence prevention programs that met a very high scientific standard of program effectiveness. The objective was to identify outstanding programs, and to describe these interventions in a series of "Blueprints." This issue examines Multisystemic Therapy (MST) as a proven model program. The ultimate goal of MST is to empower families to build an environment, through the mobilization of indigenous child, family, and community resources, that promotes health. MST has demonstrated decreased...
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1995
This article examined the long-term effects of multisystemic therapy (MST) vs. individual therapy (IT) on the prevention of criminal behavior and violent offending among 176 juvenile offenders at high risk for committing additional serious crimes. Results from multiagent, multimethod assessment batteries conducted before and after treatment showed that MST was more effective than IT in improving key family correlates of antisocial behavior and in ameliorating adjustment problems in individual family members. Moreover, results from a 4-year follow-up of rearrest data showed that MST was more effective than IT in preventing future criminal behavior, including violent offending. The implications of such findings for the design of violence prevention programs are discussed.
Serious and violent offending : psychological risk factors and treatment effectiveness
2021
Background: Violent crime causes extensive suffering and costs to individuals and societies and is a major global health issue. Prevention of violence should occur at several levels, and effective psychological interventions targeting changeable risk factors among violent offenders might reduce recidivism. Aims: First, to investigate if antisocial youth in residential treatment differ from matched general population comparison subjects on three individual psychological factors possible to address in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); antisocial cognitive distortions, empathy, and moral reasoning (Study I). Second, to test if an individual CBT module targeting problem-solving, cognitive self-control, and relapse prevention in serious, young violent offenders in residential treatment would add to the effect of treatment as usual (TAU)(Study II). Third, to assess the effectiveness of Aggression Replacement Training (ART), a CBT intervention aimed at reducing aggression and preventing ...
Risk Profiles, Trajectories, and Intervention Points for Serious and Chronic Young Offenders
International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 2011
One of the lesser understood research issues about antisocial onset and persistence is whether there are different patterns of risk factors within the broader identified pathways that require distinctive treatment strategies. This article hypothesizes that there are at least five distinct pathways to persistent antisocial behaviour. The pathways are premised upon the developmental perspective and suggest that the experiences of individuals and their exposure to subsequent risk factors are affected by the earliest risk factors to which the individual is exposed. From a policy perspective, development of these pathways focuses on the goal of preventing antisocial onset, or to reduce the likelihood that behaviours will become progressively antisocial, while concurrently encouraging desistance. A key objective is to inform policy-makers about possible program intervention points for specific sets of risk factors, utilizing programs that have already been identified as successful, and developing new experimental programs.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021
Background: Psychological recidivism-reducing interventions with serious, young violent offenders in residential care have unsatisfactory effects. We tested if a complementary individual cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) intervention focusing problem-solving, cognitive self-control, and relapse prevention reduces criminal recidivism beyond usual institutional care encompassing interventions such as social skills training and prosocial modeling (treatment-as-usual; TAU). Method: We consecutively approached 115 eligible serious, male violent crime offenders in five residential treatment homes run by the Swedish National Board of Institutional Care. Eighty-one (70%) 16 to 21-year-old youth at medium-high violent recidivism risk were included and randomized to an individualized 15 to 20-session CBT intervention plus TAU (n = 38) or to TAU-only (n = 43), 4–6 months before release to the community. Participants were assessed pre- and post-treatment, at 12 months (self-reported aggressiv...
Risk reduction interventions for adolescent offenders
Viljoen, J. L., Brodersen, E., Shaffer, C. S., & McMahon, R. J. (2016). Risk reduction interventions for adolescent offenders. In K. Heilburn, D. DeMatteo, & N. Goldstein (Eds.), American Psychological Association handbook of psychology and juvenile justice (pp. 517-555). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. The APA Handbook of Psychology and Juvenile Justice consolidates and advances knowledge about the legal, scientific, and applied foundations of the juvenile justice system. In our chapter, we discuss issues and approaches to the reduction of risk among adolescent offenders.
What works for serious juvenile offenders?: a systematic review
Psicothema, 2006
involved 4,500 inner-city youths, ranging in age, at the beginning of data collection, from 7 to 15 years old. Chronic violent offenders constituted only 15% of the total sample in Rochester and 14% of the adolescent sample in Denver, however, they committed 75% of all the violent offenses reported in Rochester and 82% of all the violent offenses reported in Denver. In conclusion the authors stated: «If we do not successfully reach this small group, we will leave the vast majority of the violence problem untouched» (p. 220).
Evidence for Interventions for Young Offenders
Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2007
Young offenders are an issue of global concern. Despite a greater understanding of the aetiology of conduct disorder and juvenile delinquency, the research on treatments and the use of evidence-based methods of interventions has not kept pace. This review critically and selectively examined interventions for young offenders, and organises them based on levels of care. The challenge is to intervene using empirical strategies that are implemented based on our emerging understanding of aggression.