TY - JOUR
T1 - Multisystemic Therapy for Juvenile Sexual Offenders
T2 - 1-Year Results From a Randomized Effectiveness Trial
AU - Letourneau, Elizabeth J.
AU - Henggeler, Scott W.
AU - Borduin, Charles M.
AU - Schewe, Paul A.
AU - McCart, Michael R.
AU - Chapman, Jason E.
AU - Saldana, Lisa
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - Despite the serious and costly problems presented by juvenile sexual offenders, rigorous tests of promising interventions have rarely been conducted. This study presents a community-based effectiveness trial comparing multisystemic therapy (MST) adapted for juvenile sexual offenders with services that are typical of those provided to juvenile sexual offenders in the United States. Youth were randomized to MST (n = 67) or treatment as usual for juvenile sexual offenders (TAU-JSO; n = 60). Outcomes through 12 months postrecruitment were assessed for problem sexual behavior, delinquency, substance use, mental health functioning, and out-of-home placements. Relative to youth who received TAU-JSO, youth in the MST condition evidenced significant reductions in sexual behavior problems, delinquency, substance use, externalizing symptoms, and out-of-home placements. The findings suggest that family- and community-based interventions, especially those with an established evidence-base in treating adolescent antisocial behavior, hold considerable promise in meeting the clinical needs of juvenile sexual offenders.
AB - Despite the serious and costly problems presented by juvenile sexual offenders, rigorous tests of promising interventions have rarely been conducted. This study presents a community-based effectiveness trial comparing multisystemic therapy (MST) adapted for juvenile sexual offenders with services that are typical of those provided to juvenile sexual offenders in the United States. Youth were randomized to MST (n = 67) or treatment as usual for juvenile sexual offenders (TAU-JSO; n = 60). Outcomes through 12 months postrecruitment were assessed for problem sexual behavior, delinquency, substance use, mental health functioning, and out-of-home placements. Relative to youth who received TAU-JSO, youth in the MST condition evidenced significant reductions in sexual behavior problems, delinquency, substance use, externalizing symptoms, and out-of-home placements. The findings suggest that family- and community-based interventions, especially those with an established evidence-base in treating adolescent antisocial behavior, hold considerable promise in meeting the clinical needs of juvenile sexual offenders.
KW - cognitive-behavior therapy
KW - effectiveness research
KW - juvenile sexual offender
KW - multisystemic therapy
KW - randomized clinical trial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60949097349&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=60949097349&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0014352
DO - 10.1037/a0014352
M3 - Article
C2 - 19203163
AN - SCOPUS:60949097349
SN - 0893-3200
VL - 23
SP - 89
EP - 102
JO - Journal of Family Psychology
JF - Journal of Family Psychology
IS - 1
ER -