Mental Health & Co-morbidity

Research demonstrates that Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) reduces the depression and anxiety symptoms of adolescents, and can be particularly effective with youth showing high severity of drug use and psychiatric comorbidity.

MDFT has been recognized as an effective mental health treatment by the American Psychological Association, and was also chosen for a special project for at-risk youth by the Finnish Association for Mental Health.

  1. Liddle, H. A., Rowe, C. L., Dakof, G. A., Henderson, C. & Greenbaum, P. (2009). Multidimensional Family Therapy for early adolescent substance abusers: Twelve month outcomes of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(1), 12-25. doi: 10.1037/a0014160
  2. Riverside County Department of Mental Health, Research & Evaluation (2015). Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy: Full service partnership outcomes report. Riverside, CA: Riverside County Department of Mental Health.
  3. Connecticut Department of Children and Families. (2013). PSDCRS outcomes report for special population MDFT teams for FY 13. Hartford, CT: Department of Children & Families.
  4. Lopez-Zeron, G. A., & Parra-Cardona, J.R. (2015). Elements of change across community-based trauma interventions. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 34, 60- 76.