Feasibility of Inpatient and Outpatient Multidimensional Family Therapy for Improving Behavioral Outcomes in Adolescents Referred to Residential Youth Care

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this study, half of a cohort of adolescents referred to a secure residential youth care institution in The Netherlands was actually placed in the center where they received well-tested Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT). The others were offered outpatient MDFT in a last-minute effort to avert juvenile judge accorded out-of-home placement. All adolescents had problems with their family, and virtually all of them with school. Externalizing behavior problems were prevalent. As expected, both groups of adolescents benefited from MDFT on externalizing behavior, family, and school outcome measures. MDFT was well-liked by adolescents and parents.