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Meta-analysis of MFT interventions.

William R Shadish1, Scott A Baldwin

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, USA. w.shadish@mail.psyc.memphis.edu

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
|November 5, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Marital and family therapy (MFT) is effective for distressed couples and for enrichment, with lasting positive outcomes. This review introduces meta-analytically supported treatments (MASTs) as a refinement of empirically supported treatments (ESTs).

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology, Clinical
  • Family Studies
  • Therapeutic Interventions

Background:

  • Marital and family interventions demonstrate efficacy in numerous meta-analyses.
  • Existing research supports both MFT for distressed couples and marital/family enrichment programs.
  • Sustained therapeutic effects are observed at follow-up assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review 20 meta-analyses on marital and family interventions.
  • To introduce the concept of meta-analytically supported treatments (MASTs).
  • To address limitations in the empirically supported treatment (EST) literature.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of 20 existing meta-analyses.
  • Analysis of treatment efficacy and effect sizes.
  • Conceptual development of MASTs based on meta-analytic evidence.

Main Results:

  • Marital and family interventions show significant efficacy, with effects slightly diminishing but remaining significant at follow-up.
  • MFT yields clinically significant results for 40-50% of treated individuals.
  • Minimal differences are found between various types of marital and family interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Marital and family therapy (MFT) is an effective treatment for couples and families.
  • MASTs offer a robust framework for identifying effective psychological treatments.
  • Recommendations are provided for enhancing future meta-analytic research in this field.

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