Strength-Focused Treatment is Associated with Positive Outcomes in Implemented Multisystemic Therapy

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a family-centered, community-based psychosocial treatment and is a leading evidence-based intensive-in-home treatment for youth. Prior findings from well-controlled effectiveness and randomized control trials of MST underscore the potential mental health benefits of targeting youth, family, and community strengths in treatment. However, less is known about the outcomes associated with strength-focused treatment in implemented MST settings, particularly in public mental health care (PMHC). Hierarchical and longitudinal growth modeling techniques were used to analyze archival clinical service data from a sample of 911 youth receiving implemented MST in a statewide PMHC system. Therapeutic focus on strengths was measured as a proportion of overall treatment targets endorsed by therapists that were strength-based (strength proportion [SP]). This study examined the associations between SP and three different treatment outcome measures: discharge status, end-of-treatment functional impairment, and therapist-rated treatment progress. Findings indicated significant positive associations between a greater therapeutic focus on strengths and higher likelihood of successful treatment discharge, better youth functioning at end-of-treatment, and greater treatment progress. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are provided.