Systemic (family) therapy is a widely used psychotherapy approach. However, most systematic efficacy reviews have focused solely on "family-based treatment" rather than on the theoretic orientation "systemic therapy." We systematically review trials on the efficacy of systemic therapy for the treatment of childhood and adolescent externalizing disorders. All randomized (or matched) controlled trials (RCT) evaluating systemic/systems-oriented therapy in various forms (family, individual, group, multi-family group therapy) with child or adolescent index patients (0-17 years) suffering from mental disorders were identified by data base searches and cross-references. Inclusion criteria were as follows: index patient diagnosed with a DSM- or ICD-listed mental disorder, and trial published in any language up to the end of 2011. The RCTs were analyzed for their research methodology, interventions applied, and results (postintervention; follow-up). A total of 47 trials from the United States, Europe, and China, published in English, German, and Mandarin, were identified. A total of 42 of them showed systemic therapy to be efficacious for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, conduct disorders, and substance use disorders. Results were stable across follow-up periods of up to 14 years. There is a sound evidence base for the efficacy of systemic therapy for children and adolescents (and their families) diagnosed with externalizing disorders.

Systemic therapy is a widely used psychotherapy approach. Yet there exist few systematic reviews on its efficacy. A meta-content analysis was performed to analyze the efficacy of systemic therapy for the treatment of mental disorders in adulthood. All randomized (or matched) controlled trials (RCT) evaluating systemic/systems oriented therapy in various settings (family, couple, individual, group, multifamily group therapy) with adult index patients suffering from mental disorders were identified by database searches and cross-references in other reviews. Inclusion criteria were: index patient diagnosed with a DSM or ICD listed mental disorder, trial published in any language up to the end of 2008. The RCTs were content analyzed according to their research methodology, interventions applied, and results. Thirty-eight trials published in English, German, Spanish, and Chinese were identified, 34 of them showing systemic therapy to be efficacious for the treatment of mood disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, mental and social factors related to medical conditions and physical disorders, and schizophrenia. Systemic therapy may also be efficacious for anxiety disorders. Results were stable across follow-up periods of up to 5 years. There is a sound evidence-base for the efficacy of systemic therapy for adult index patients with mental disorders in at least five diagnostic groups.

Systemic therapy (ST) is one of the most widely applied psychotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of children and adolescents, yet few systematic reviews exist on the efficacy of ST with this age group. Parallel to a similar study on adults, a systematic review was performed to analyze the efficacy of ST in the treatment of children and adolescents. All randomized or matched controlled trials (RCT) evaluating ST in any setting with child and adolescent index patients were identified by database searches and cross-references, as well as in existing meta-analyses and reviews. Inclusion criteria were: index patient diagnosed with a DSM-IV or ICD-10 listed psychological disorder, or suffering from other clinically relevant conditions, and trial published by December 2011. Studies were analyzed according to their sample, research methodology, interventions applied, and results at end-of-treatment and at follow-up. This article presents findings for internalizing and mixed disorders. Thirty-eight trials were identified, with 33 showing ST to be efficacious for the treatment of internalizing disorders (including mood disorders, eating disorders, and psychological factors in somatic illness). There is some evidence for ST being also efficacious in mixed disorders, anxiety disorders, Asperger disorder, and in cases of child neglect. Results were stable across follow-up periods of up to 5 years. Trials on the efficacy of ST for externalizing disorders are presented in a second article. There is a sound evidence base for the efficacy of ST as a treatment for internalizing disorders of child and adolescent patients.

Kirs ten von Sy dow 1 · Ste fan Be her 2 · Rü di ger Retzlaff 3 · Jo chen Schweit zer-Ro thers 4 1 Psy cho lo gi sches In sti tut, Uni ver si tät Ham burg 2 Uni ver si tät Mainz 3 In sti tut für Psy cho so ma ti sche Ko ope ra ti ons for schung und Fa mi li en the ra pie, Zent rum für Psy cho so zia le Me di zin, Uni ver si täts kli nik Hei del berg 4 In sti tut für Me di zi ni sche Psy cho lo gie, Zent rum für Psy cho so zia le Me di zin, Uni ver si täts kli nik Hei del berg Sys te mi sche The ra pie bei Stö run gen des Er wach se nen al ters Eine Me tain halts ana ly se von 28 ran do mi sier ten Pri mär stu di en Psy cho the ra peut

Hintergrund: Systemische (Familien-, Paar-, Gruppen-, Multi-Familien-Gruppen-, Einzel-)Therapie ist in den USA und vielen europäischen Ländern ein anerkanntes und etabliertes Psychotherapieverfahren, in Deutschland jedoch erst seit 2008 wissenschaftlich anerkannt und bisher nur unzureichend in der klinischen Versorgung etabliert. Methode: Über Datenbankrecherchen und Querverweise in Metaanalysen und Reviews wurden alle bis Ende 2008 publizierten kontrollierten, randomisierten (oder parallelisierten) Outcome-Studien zur systemischen Therapie (alle Settings) bei ICD-10-/DSM-IV-Substanzstörungen des Erwachsenen- und des Jugendalters identifiziert und systematisch inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet (Meta-Inhaltsanalyse). Ergebnisse: Es wurden 10 RCT zur systemischen Therapie bei Störungen des Erwachsenenalters und 17 RCT zum Jugendalter identifiziert – trotz internationaler Recherchen ausschließlich englischsprachige Publikationen. Sehr gut belegt ist die Wirksamkeit systemischer Familientherapie bei Substanzstörungen des Jugendalters, insbes. Cannabisstörungen (auch in Kombination mit dissozialen und/oder internalisierenden Störungen). Bei erwachsenen Heroinabhängigen ist ST kombiniert mit Methadonsubstitution nachweislich wirksamer als Methadonsubstitution allein. Weniger überzeugend ist die Evidenz zu Alkoholstörungen im Erwachsenenalter. Die Ergebnisse sind meist zeitlich stabil über Katamnese-Zeiträume von bis zu fünf Jahren. Schlussfolgerungen: Bei Substanzstörungen des Jugendalters ist systemische Therapie weltweit das am besten evaluierte Verfahren. In Bezug auf das Erwachsenenalter sind die Befunde auch positiv, aber weniger umfassend.