Citation

Henggeler SW, Schoenwald SK, Borduin CM, Swenson CC. Child. Youth Serv. Rev. 2006; 28(4): 447-457.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this article, we respond to a recent paper published in Children and Youth Services Review, in which Dr. Julia Littell concluded that multisystemic therapy (MST), a family- and evidence-based treatment of serious juvenile offenders, does not reduce rates of rearrest or incarceration and does not improve family relations. Dr. Littell's conclusion is contrasted with those of highly respected reviewers and federal entities that are entirely independent of MST developers and researchers. Moreover, we describe how Dr. Littell's conceptual and methodological analyses have misinterpreted and misrepresented MST research studies and reflect poor appreciation for the conduct of community-based research with challenging clinical populations; the distinctions between efficacy, effectiveness, and transportability research; the nuances of conducting meta-analyses; the importance of treatment fidelity to internal validity; and the fact that not all outcome studies are asking the same conceptual questions. Finally, the implications of Dr. Littell's contentions are noted. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Children and Youth Services Review, 2006. Copyright © 2006 by Elsevier Science)

REFERENCES:
Littell, J.H. (2005, April). Lessons from a Systematic Review of Effects of Multisystemic Therapy. Children and Youth Services Review, 27(4), 445-463. (VioLit Record Number 20212)

For more information on Multisystemic Therapy, a Blueprints for Violence Prevention Model program, see VioPro record number 2261.

Offender Treatment
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Violence
Juvenile Treatment
Violence Treatment
Family Based
Community Based
Multisystemic Therapy
Blueprints Model Reference
Program Effectiveness
Program Evaluation
Juvenile Behavior
Juvenile Antisocial Behavior
Behavior Treatment
Meta Analysis
Professional Criticism
02-06