Multisystemic therapy
Multisystemic therapy is an intense, family-focused and community-based treatment program for juveniles with serious criminal offenses and are possibly abusing substances. It is also a therapy strategy to teach their families how to foster their success in recovery.
Full Answer
What is multisystemic treatment?
What is Multisystemic Treatment? Multisystemic treatment, or MST, is a comprehensive treatment model for adolescents with behavioral and emotional issues. An MST approach to adolescent treatment acknowledges the complex world in which our children’s behaviors are learned and constantly reinforced.
Who are the authors of Multisystemic treatment of serious juvenile offenders?
Borduin, Charles, Barton J. Mann, Lynn T. Cone, Scott W. Henggeler, Bethany R. Fucci, David M. Blaske, and Robert A. Williams. “Multisystemic Treatment of Serious Juvenile Offenders: Long-Term Prevention of Criminality and Violence.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1995, Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 569-578.
How effective is multisystemic therapy (MST) at reducing rearrests?
Results of the Henggeler and colleagues (1992) study at 59 weeks postreferral showed the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) treatment group had just more than half the number of rearrests than the usual-services comparison group.
What is the difference between Multisystemic therapy and functional family therapy?
While multisystemic therapy has much evidence supporting it with a few criticisms, there are other treatment options for families. MST differs in a number of ways from these different treatments, including functional family therapy (FFT). The initial difference between MST and FFT is in the population they treat.
What is a multisystemic therapy approach?
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive family and community-based treatment for serious juvenile offenders with possible substance abuse issues and their families. The primary goals of MST are to decrease youth criminal behavior and out-of-home placements.
What types of treatment does a multisystemic approach involve?
As a family-based home intervention, MST identifies the practical issues that impact the youth's serious antisocial behavior within his or her social environment. Various therapies inform the specific treatment techniques used, including behavioral, cognitive–behavioral, and the pragmatic family therapies.
Which of the following is a primary purpose of the assessment process used in multisystemic therapy?
Thus, the primary purpose of the ongoing MST assessment process is to understand the “fit” between the identified problems and their broader systemic context. .or each youth referred to MST, the therapist attempts to determine the specific 22 ESSENTIAL CLINICAL PROCESSES Page 7 combination of factors that sustain ...
What is the role of the therapist in strategic family therapy?
In strategic family therapy, the therapist develops techniques for solving problems specific to the family's interactions and structure. The therapist sees the problem as part of a sequence of interactions of those in the individual's immediate social environment.
What is a multi therapist?
MST is an intensive family and community based intervention for children and young people aged 11-17, where young people are at risk of out of home placement in either care or custody due to their offending or having severe behaviour problems.
What are the three phases of functional family therapy?
Functional Family Therapy The FFT clinical practice model has three distinct phases: (a) engagement and motivation, (b) behaviour change, and (c) generalization. Therapist goals and interventions appropriate to each phase are described in a treatment manual (Sexton and Alexander, 2004).
What role does multisystemic play in community based interventions for juvenile delinquents?
MST can decrease delinquent behavior, sexual behavior problems, incarceration, and residential treatment for youth charged with sexual offenses12, 13, 14. MST may also reduce arrest and incarceration, and increase probation completion among Hispanic youth offenders7.
Who developed functional family therapy?
Thomas Sexton, PhDThomas Sexton, PhD, is one of the developers of functional family therapy, or FFT, a systematic, evidenced-based approach that focuses on treating a wide range of problems affecting youth, such as substance abuse, conduct disorder, truancy, and related family problems.
Why is MST important?
MST works to break the cycle of criminal behavior by keeping teens at home, in school and out of trouble. Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive family- and community-based treatment that addresses the multiple determinants of serious antisocial behavior in juvenile offenders.
What is the difference between structural family therapy and strategic family therapy?
The strategic approach focuses on repeating sequences of behavior, particularly those that break hierarchical rules through cross-generational coalitions. Structural therapists focus on resolving structural problems in the family, whereas strategic therapists focus on the presenting symptom.
Who benefits from strategic therapy?
Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT®) is an effective, problem focused, and practical approach to the elimination of substance abuse risk factors. It successfully reduces problem behaviors in children and adolescents 6 to 17 years old and strengthens their families.
What are the important assumptions of strategic family therapy?
BSFT is based on the fundamental assumption that adaptive family interactions can play a pivotal role in protecting children from negative influences and that maladaptive family interactions can contribute to the evolution of behavior problems and consequently are a primary target for intervention.
What is MST intervention?
MST interventions should match the developmental age of the child for which they are created. Family members are needed to enact interventions. Evaluation of interventions occur from multiple perspectives. Each intervention is made to be used long term and in multiple settings.
What is MST in the family system?
MST differs from the usual tactics in that it targets criminogenic factors related to an individual's social environment , particularly within the family system. It has been identified as a promising treatment model for juvenile offenders by the U.S. Surgeon General in reducing rates of recidivism.
What is the MST method?
The MST method was originally a collection of procedures practiced by Dr. Scott Henggeler in the 1970s . He soon brought in Charles Borduin and Molly Brunk, two of his doctoral students, to help with the theory’s documentation. To bring their project to fruition, Henggeler, Borduin, and Brunk combined evidence-based practice models with the positive aspects of other behavior theories, and created the calling card of MST by emphasizing family preservation and strengthening of relationships among juvenile delinquents. Since then, there have been a few tweaks to the original design, and in 1990 MST as it is known today was born. For being so new, MST has been tested many times in many settings, and in most it has shown to have the longest lasting positive effects for troubled youth and their families.
What is the MST Institute?
After the finalization of the MST method, the MST Institute was founded as a nonprofit corporation to be "responsible for setting quality assurance standards and monitoring the implementation of Multisystemic Therapy in all programs worldwide".
What is MST in a family?
Multisystemic therapy. Multisystemic therapy (MST) is an intense, family-focused and community-based treatment program for juveniles with serious criminal offenses who are possibly abusing substances. It is also a therapy strategy to teach their families how to foster their success in recovery.
What is MST in psychology?
MST draws upon many practices from strategic family therapy, structural family therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy. It is based in part on ecological systems theory; therapists address individual, family, peer, school, and neighborhood risk factors that lead to antisocial behavior. MST also is informed by the theory ...
What is MST HC?
These include MST-CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect), MST-Psychiatric, for youth with psychotic behavior or who are at risk of suicide or homicide, and MST-HC (Health Care), for youth with chronic health conditions and challenges with treatment adherence.
What is multisystemic therapy?
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive family- and community-based treatment program. It addresses all aspects and natural environments of a high-risk youth’s life, including home, family functioning, school, community, and peers. MST clinicians:
What is MST intervention?
MST involves a therapist working with chronic juvenile offenders in the home and working with family members and the school system. An MST intervention can reduce the cost of crime by tens of thousands of dollars.
What is MST treatment?
MST programs use a patient, family, and community-based treatment model. A masters-level therapist facilitates them. They work with the patient and their family in a home placement and at school, and in the community. Patients see their therapists several times a week for intensive treatment.
What age group is MST?
The primary participants in MST are youth ages 12 to 17 with serious problem and antisocial behavior. Many MST members also experience mental health problems. Most serious juvenile offenders crimes might include: Patients in the program benefit, but so do their families, caregivers, peers, educators, and the community.
What is the goal of a therapist?
The therapist’s goal is to keep the patient safe at home, at school, and at work and ensure they stay out of trouble with the law. Success is not measured by the length of time a patient or family is in the program. When a patient is released from the program, therapists consider:
What is the goal of MST?
MST’s goal is to prevent young people with serious clinical problems, including violent tendencies, serious antisocial behavior, substance abuse, or criminal behavior, from continuing to get into trouble. This is achieved through intense involvement and contact with the patient and their family and extended support system.
Is MST a long term savings?
MST offers long-term savings, which means the future cost for taxpayers and victims is less now than it would cost later to deal with crime. One study conducted by Charles M. Borduin, one of MST’s developers, found that evidence-based therapies are cost-effective.
What is multisystemic therapy?
Multisystemic therapy is an intense form of therapy involving a basis of family and community treatment; it’s intended for underage individuals who have been seriously involved with the justice system and may have substance use issues. This treatment is most common with individuals between 12 and 17 years old, specifically those who may require ...
What to expect at the first appointment for multisystemic therapy?
The first session of multisystemic therapy will require the attendance of the team supervisor, the main therapist, and all family members, including the underage individual.
What is MST treatment?
Multisystemic therapy (MST) is an intense, community-based, family-involved treatment for underage individuals who have had serious legal involvement as well as potential substance use issues. It’s provided over the course of four to five months, multiple times a week; a team is available at all times in case of crises.
What is MST in criminal behavior?
MST can help increase problem-solving and prosocial behaviors in underage individuals who present with aggressive, antisocial, or serious criminal behaviors (e.g., fighting, verbal or physical aggression, serious legal charges, etc.).
How to do MST?
The four core concepts of MST are: 1 Identify the “fit:” This requires an evaluation to clarify the connection or “fit” between the identified behaviors and how they play out in different environments. It focuses on what maintains certain continued behaviors. 3 2 Concentrate on strengths and increase responsibility: It is important for the treatment team to concentrate on and identify strengths and positive behaviors to encourage good change and coping mechanisms. This helps increase the individual’s (and the family’s) accountability and reduce irresponsible behaviors. 3 3 Focus on the present, clearly identify issues, and take action: This helps the team and the family engage in interventions with automatic feedback, actively work on goals, and measure progress without focusing on the past. 3 4 Making effort, evaluating the treatment, and encouraging continued application: Due to the intense nature of MST, it is important that challenges are continuously engaged in the individual’s life to encourage their commitment. Further, it supports continuous re-assessment of techniques or goals to ensure they are effective and can be carried into day-to-day life once treatment is over. 3
What is MST used for?
It’s also used to treat individuals who make frequent suicidal or homicidal threats or experience substance use issues. 1. However, MST is not only applicable to underage individuals; it is frequently used with parents or guardians in the family unit.
What is the goal of MST?
While the overarching goal of MST is to complete structured therapy, specific goals regarding certain behaviors or interactions in the individual’s environment are set by a main therapist, a team of MST professionals, their supervisor, and the family.
Why is MST a highly individualized model of treatment?
Because every person is different and lives in a unique social universe, MST is a highly individualized model of treatment. Look for a program that that tailors treatment to the individual adolescent and that re-evaluates the treatment plan regularly.
What should a program using MST be able to describe?
A program using MST should be able to describe the research its practices are based on and should be able to provide you with outcome data on their own students. They should have evidence of a low relapse and recidivism rate compared to other programs working with a similar population.
Why is it important to visit a MST program?
To ensure that a program is effectively utilizing MST approaches, it’s important to actually visit and confirm that it employs the critical features of MST. A good MST program can powerfully and permanently help young people with longstanding behavioral issues heal and succeed.
When was MST created?
MST was created in the 1970s to address high rates of recidivism and relapse among teens suffering from oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), drug and alcohol abuse, and other destructive behaviors. The lack of long-term success in addressing these issues along with the advent of systems theory led clinicians to explore a multisystemic model. ...
Is MST relational or clinical?
Relational: Even though MST is clinically sophisticated and deals with the complexity of multiple social systems, it is at core a highly relational approach to treatment. Therapists and therapeutic teams utilizing MST must maintain high-quality relationships with each other, their clients, and their client’s families and communities.
What is MST treatment?
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.
What is MST in behavioral health?
MST Services can help identify a specific location, such as a behavioral health agency, or “home base” for the clinicians to operate out of. Although treatment is not done within this setting, it gives clinicians and other MST staff a place to coordinate as a team.
What is MST in psychology?
MST is an evidence-based practice, meaning it is scientifically proven to work better than alternatives in experiments with real people. We feature the largest body of evidence, by far, of successful interventions for high risk youth. Learn More about MST’s Proven Results.
How many families does MST have?
The therapists are available to the youth and his or her family 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and each therapist carries a small caseload of four to six families.
What is MST in school?
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive, manualized, licensed program for youth with severe conduct problems (e.g., violence, substance misuse, school expulsion) and their families.