Multisystemic therapy for disruptive behavior problems in youths with autism spectrum disorders: a progress report

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in youth are frequently associated with serious disruptive behaviors.
• These behaviors negatively impact daily responsibilities, relationships with caregivers, peers, and teachers.
• There is a critical need for effective interventions targeting disruptive behaviors in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review factors contributing to disruptive behaviors in youths with ASD.
• To discuss the adaptation of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for this population.
• To present a framework for adapting MST for youths with ASD.

Main Methods:

• Review of factors associated with disruptive behaviors in youths with ASD.
• Discussion of MST intervention adaptations for ASD.
• Presentation of a framework for MST adaptation, incorporating pilot and efficacy trial data.

Main Results:

• Identification of key interventions through a pilot study and ongoing efficacy trial.
• Development of an adapted MST framework tailored for youths with ASD.
• Demonstration of MST's potential applicability to disruptive behaviors in ASD.

Conclusions:

• Multisystemic therapy (MST) offers a promising approach for addressing disruptive behaviors in youths with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
• Adapting MST interventions based on identified factors and trial data is crucial for effective treatment.
• The proposed framework and ongoing research provide a foundation for implementing MST in this population.