Outpatient Adolescent Treatment for Comorbid Substance Use and Internalizing Disorders
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Depression, Depression, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 12 - 17 |
| Updated: | 6/16/2018 |
| Start Date: | October 2004 |
| End Date: | September 2010 |
Development of Outpatient MST for Dually Diagnosed Youth
Adolescent substance abuse results in significant negative outcomes and extraordinary costs
for youths, their families, communities, and society. Moreover, rates of psychiatric
comorbidity among substance abusing youth range from 25% up to 82%, and youths with a dual
diagnosis have worse outcomes and are more than twice as costly to treat than their
counterparts with no comorbidity. This project was a pilot test of a new treatment, OPTION-A,
which was adapted from Multisystemic Therapist (MST) and other evidence-based interventions
to specifically treat youth presenting for outpatient treatment of comorbid substance use and
internalizing disorders. The project was a randomized controlled pilot trial comparing the
experimental treatment to usual services in the community.
for youths, their families, communities, and society. Moreover, rates of psychiatric
comorbidity among substance abusing youth range from 25% up to 82%, and youths with a dual
diagnosis have worse outcomes and are more than twice as costly to treat than their
counterparts with no comorbidity. This project was a pilot test of a new treatment, OPTION-A,
which was adapted from Multisystemic Therapist (MST) and other evidence-based interventions
to specifically treat youth presenting for outpatient treatment of comorbid substance use and
internalizing disorders. The project was a randomized controlled pilot trial comparing the
experimental treatment to usual services in the community.
Adolescent substance abuse results in significant negative outcomes and extraordinary costs
for youths, their families, communities, and society. Moreover, rates of psychiatric
comorbidity among substance abusing youth are high and youths with a dual diagnosis are more
costly to treat. At the time of this study, however, no outpatient treatments had been tested
specifically for treating youth with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health
diagnoses. The current project aimed to adapt and evaluate Multisystemic Therapy (MST), a
well validated treatment for chronic behavioral problems or serious emotional disturbance in
adolescents, to treat dually diagnosed youth using an outpatient model of service delivery.
A pilot trial was conducted with 40 dually diagnosed youth randomly assigned to treatment
conditions, with 20 receiving the experimental treatment (OPTION-A) and 20 receiving usual
outpatient services. Specific aims were:
Specific Aim 1: The primary aim of the present research was to adapt and test OPTION-A for
use in outpatient settings to treat youth diagnosed with a substance use disorder and
comorbid internalizing disorder. We hypothesized that youth receiving OPTION-A would exhibit
significantly less drug use (e.g., youth self-reports and urine screens) than control youth
who received usual services, and that youth receiving OPTION-A would exhibit significant
improvement on indices of mental health (e.g., combined youth and caregiver reports on
diagnostic interviews and youth, caregiver, and teacher reports of internalizing symptoms)
compared to control youth Specific Aim 2: In addition to improved symptomatology, the current
research aimed to test the effectiveness of OPTION-A to improve youth functioning in other
domains pertinent to successful adolescent development. We hypothesized that youth receiving
OPTION-A would evidence improved behavioral (e.g., youth, caregiver, and teacher reports of
externalizing), school (e.g., school attendance), and family functioning (e.g., youth and
caregiver reports of family adaptability and cohesion) compared to control youth who received
usual services.
Specific Aim 3: The final aim of the proposed research was to provide services that are more
acceptable to consumers than are usual services provided in the community. We hypothesized
that youth and families receiving OPTION-A would experience significantly greater consumer
satisfaction than control youth and families who received usual services.
for youths, their families, communities, and society. Moreover, rates of psychiatric
comorbidity among substance abusing youth are high and youths with a dual diagnosis are more
costly to treat. At the time of this study, however, no outpatient treatments had been tested
specifically for treating youth with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health
diagnoses. The current project aimed to adapt and evaluate Multisystemic Therapy (MST), a
well validated treatment for chronic behavioral problems or serious emotional disturbance in
adolescents, to treat dually diagnosed youth using an outpatient model of service delivery.
A pilot trial was conducted with 40 dually diagnosed youth randomly assigned to treatment
conditions, with 20 receiving the experimental treatment (OPTION-A) and 20 receiving usual
outpatient services. Specific aims were:
Specific Aim 1: The primary aim of the present research was to adapt and test OPTION-A for
use in outpatient settings to treat youth diagnosed with a substance use disorder and
comorbid internalizing disorder. We hypothesized that youth receiving OPTION-A would exhibit
significantly less drug use (e.g., youth self-reports and urine screens) than control youth
who received usual services, and that youth receiving OPTION-A would exhibit significant
improvement on indices of mental health (e.g., combined youth and caregiver reports on
diagnostic interviews and youth, caregiver, and teacher reports of internalizing symptoms)
compared to control youth Specific Aim 2: In addition to improved symptomatology, the current
research aimed to test the effectiveness of OPTION-A to improve youth functioning in other
domains pertinent to successful adolescent development. We hypothesized that youth receiving
OPTION-A would evidence improved behavioral (e.g., youth, caregiver, and teacher reports of
externalizing), school (e.g., school attendance), and family functioning (e.g., youth and
caregiver reports of family adaptability and cohesion) compared to control youth who received
usual services.
Specific Aim 3: The final aim of the proposed research was to provide services that are more
acceptable to consumers than are usual services provided in the community. We hypothesized
that youth and families receiving OPTION-A would experience significantly greater consumer
satisfaction than control youth and families who received usual services.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Presentation for outpatient treatment
- 12 to 17 years of age
- Youth residing with at least one adult caregiver who serves as a parent figure
- Substance Abuse or Dependence Disorder
- Axis I Internalizing Disorder (Mood Disorder or Anxiety Disorder), based on the
Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-IV; Shaffer, Fisher, Lucas, Dulcan, &
Schwab-Stone, 2000)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- Psychotic Disorder
- Severe or profound mental retardation (IQ of 45 or below)
- Families previously receiving Multisystemic Therapy
We found this trial at
1
site
Charleston, South Carolina 29425
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