Multisystemic Therapy

MST is an intensive family- and community-based treatment program that addresses all environments that impact high risk youth - homes and families, schools and teachers, neighborhoods and friends. MST clinicians:
  • Travel to the youth and are on call 24/7
  • Work intensively to empower parents and caregivers
  • Work with caregivers to focus youth on school and gaining job skills
  • Introduce youth to recreational activities as an alternative to hanging out with anti-social peers


Last reviewed: 2023

Intended Outcomes:

  • Keep youth safely at home
  • Keep youth in education or working
  • Keep youth out of trouble with the law

Continuum of Care:
Treatment

Topic Areas:
Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Substance Use

Ages:
Childhood (4-12), Teen/Adolescent (13-18)

Geographic Locations:
Rural, Urban

Delivery Settings:
Community-Based

Cultural Considerations:
Limited research found involving diverse populations

Audience:
Youth ages 12-17 with substance abuse issues who are at risk of out of home placement or involved in the juvenile justice system

Credentials:
Licensed mental health professional

Manuals:
Yes

Is Training Required?
Yes, see developer info

Who can provide the required training?
Trainers certified with MST Services

Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website

Program/Practice Website:
https://www.mstservices.com/

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:

Borduin, C. M., Mann, B. J., Cone, L. T., Henggeler, S. W., Fucci, B. R., Blaske, D. M., & Williams, R. A. (1995). Multisystemic treatment of serious juvenile offenders: Long-term prevention of criminality and violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(4), 569-578. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.63.4.569

Fain, T., Greathouse, S. M., Turner, S. F., & Weinberg, H. D. (2014). Effectiveness of multisystemic therapy for minority youth: Outcomes over 8 years in Los Angeles county. Journal of juvenile justice, 3(2), 24.

Fonagy, P., Butler, S., Cottrell, D., Scott, S., Pilling, S., Eisler, I., … Goodyer, I. M. (2018). Multisystemic therapy versus management as usual in the treatment of adolescent antisocial behaviour (START): A pragmatic, randomised controlled, superiority trial. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(2), 119-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30001-4

Olsson, T. M., Långström, N., Skoog, T., Andrée Löfholm, C., Leander, L., Brolund, A., Ringborg, A., Nykänen, P., Syversson, A., & Sundell, K. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analysis of noninstitutional psychosocial interventions to prevent juvenile criminal recidivism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89(6), 514-527. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000652

Weiss, B., Han, S., Harris, V., Catron, T., Ngo, V. K., Caron, A., … Guth, C. (2013). An independent randomized clinical trial of multisystemic therapy with non-court-referred adolescents with serious conduct problems. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81(6), 1027-1039.https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033928.

Borduin, C. M., Mann, B. J., Cone, L. T., Henggeler, S. W., Fucci, B. R., Blaske, D. M., & Williams, R. A. (1995). Multisystemic treatment of serious juvenile offenders: Long-term prevention of criminality and violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(4), 569-578.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.63.4.569

Borduin, C. M., Schaeffer, C. M., & Heiblum, N. (2009). A randomized clinical trial of Multisystemic Therapy with juvenile sexual offenders: Effects on youth social ecology and criminal activity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013035

Borduin, C. M., Mann, B. J., Cone, L. T., Henggeler, S. W., Fucci, B. R., Blaske, D. M., & Williams, R. A. (1995). Multisystemic treatment of serious juvenile offenders: Long-term prevention of criminality and violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(4), 569-578.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.63.4.569

Butler, S., Baruch, G., Hickley, N., & Fonagy, P. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of MST a statutory therapeutic intervention for young offenders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(12), 1220-1235.

Henggeler, S. W., Halliday-Boykins, C. A., Cunningham, P. B., Randall, J., Shapiro, S. B., & Chapman, J. E. (2006). Juvenile drug court: Enhancing outcomes by integrating evidence-based treatments. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(1), 42–54.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.1.42

Henggeler, S. W., Melton, G. B., Brondino, M. J., Scherer, D. G., & Hanley, J. H. (1997). Multisystemic Therapy with violent and chronic juvenile offenders and their families: The role of treatment fidelity in successful dissemination. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65(5), 821–833. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.65.5.821

Henggeler, S. W., Pickrel, S. G., & Brondino, M. J. (1999). Multisystemic treatment of substance abusing and dependent delinquents: Outcomes, treatment fidelity, and transportability. Mental Health Services Research, 1, 171–184. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022373813261

Henggeler, S. W., Melton, G. B., & Smith, L. A. (1992). Family preservation using multisystemic therapy: An effective alternative to incarcerating serious juvenile offenders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(6), 953–961. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.60.6.953

Letourneau, E. J., Henggeler, S. W., Borduin, C. M., Schewe, P. A., McCart, M. R., Chapman, J. E., & Saldana, L. (2009). Multisystemic Therapy for juvenile sexual offenders: 1-year results from a randomized effectiveness trial. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(1), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014352

Sawyer, A. M., & Borduin, C. M. (2011). Effects of multisystemic therapy through midlife: A 21.9-year follow-up to a randomized clinical trial with serious and violent juvenile offenders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(5), 643-652. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024862

Sundell, K., Hansson, K., Lofholm, C. A., Olsson, T., Gustle, L. H., & Kadesjo, C. (2008). The transportability of MST to Sweden: Short-term results from a randomized trial of conduct disordered youth. Journal of Family Psychology, 22, 550-560

Timmons-Mitchell, J., Bender, M. B., Kishna, M. A., & Mitchell, C. C. (2006). An independent effectiveness trial of multisystemic therapy with juvenile justice youth. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 35(2), 227-236. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15374424jccp3502_6

Additional Sources:

https://www.mstservices.com/

Supported By Research

WV Rating:
Supported by Research
»WV Ratings Info

Rationale for Rating:

The majority of RCTs were conducted prior to the past 10 years. The preponderance of evidence is positive and intervention has at least one rigorous, peer-reviewed RCT demonstrating effectiveness. In contrast, there are various studies indicating a lack of effectiveness leading the reviewers to rate MST as supported by research rather than well-supported by research.

Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified

Other Registries/Ratings

The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Well-Supported by Research Evidence

Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Model +

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Effective RCT

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Effective - More than one study

Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Found on the registry. See link for more information.

Washington State Institute for Public Policy Registry Link:
https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/Search?SearchQueries%5B0%5D.paramType=KEYWORD_ANY&SearchQueries%5B0%5D.paramJoin=AND&ShowWeb=true&ShowStaff=true&ShowCurrentProjects=true&ShowPublications=false&ShowBenefitCostResults=true&SearchQueries%5B0%5D.paramTermsIn=TERMS_ANYWHERE&SearchQueries%5B0%5D.valueString=Multisystemic%20Therapy