Conduct disorder and delinquency

Overviews evidence-based family treatments for adolescent conduct problems. Three treatments succeed in meeting recommendations for treatment development set forth in recent evaluations by reviewers and federal entities. These treatments (Functional Family Therapy, Multisystemic Therapy, and Oregon Treatment Foster Care) have achieved their success by using the science base of known risk factors, providing an effective alternative to restrictive placements, and using scientific methods to evaluate effectiveness. Major features of these three treatments are presented, including clinical and quality assurance procedures, controlled outcome research support, cost analyses, and process research. Bases of treatment success and parallels among the three approaches are summarized, as is their transport and dissemination to practice settings. Finally, suggestions for future research and clinical implications are discussed.