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Multisystemic therapy effects on attempted suicide by youths presenting psychiatric emergencies
Stanley J Huey1, Scott W Henggeler, Melisa D Rowland
1Department of Psychology and Program in American Studies and Ethnicity, University of Sothern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061, USA. hueyj@usc.edu
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of multisystemic therapy (MST) in reducing attempted suicide among predominantly African American youths referred for emergency psychiatric hospitalization.
Method:
Youths presenting psychiatric emergencies were randomly assigned to MST or hospitalization. Indices of attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, depressive affect, and parental control were assessed before treatment, at 4 months after recruitment, and at the 1-year posttreatment follow-up.
Results:
Based on youth report, MST was significantly more effective than emergency hospitalization at decreasing rates of attempted suicide at 1-year follow-up; also, the rate of symptom reduction over time was greater for youths receiving MST. Also, treatment differences in patterns of change in attempted suicide (caregiver report) varied as a function of ethnicity, gender, and age. Moreover, treatment effects were found for caregiver-rated parental control but not for youth depressive affect, hopelessness, or suicidal ideation.
Conclusions:
Results generally support MST's effectiveness at reducing attempted suicide in psychiatrically disturbed youngsters, whereas the effects of hospitalization varied based on informant and youth demographic characteristics.