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Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect: A Randomized Effectiveness Trial

NCJ Number
306889
Journal
Journal of Family Psychology Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: 2010 Pages: 497-507
Author(s)
Cynthia Cupit Swenson; Cynthia M. Schaeffer; Scott W. Henggeler; Richard Faldowski; Amy Marie Mayhew
Date Published
2010
Length
11 pages
Annotation

The authors discuss their randomized effectiveness trial of an intervention program for physically abused adolescents and their families; the authors discuss their methodology, research outcomes, and implications for treatment of child physical abuse.

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to conduct a randomized effectiveness trial of Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) for physically abused youth (mean age = 13.88 years, 55.8 percent female, 68.6 percent black) and their families. Eighty-six families being followed by Child Protective Services due to physical abuse were randomly assigned to MST-CAN or Enhanced Outpatient Treatment (EOT), with both interventions delivered by therapists employed at a community mental health center. Across five assessments extending 16 months after baseline, intent-to-treat analyses showed that MST-CAN was significantly more effective than EOT in reducing youth mental health symptoms, parent psychiatric distress, parenting behaviors associated with maltreatment, youth out-of-home placements, and changes in youth placement. Also, MST-CAN was significantly more effective at improving natural social support for parents. Effect sizes were in the medium to large range for most outcomes examined. Although fewer children in the MST-CAN condition experienced an incident of re-abuse than did counterparts in the EOT condition, base rates were low and this difference was not statistically significant. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential for broad-based treatments of child physical abuse to be effectively transported and implemented in community treatment settings. Publisher Abstract Provided