Fifteen years after treatment: A follow-up study of comprehensive vocationally-oriented psychotherapy.

Abstract

The fourth follow-up study of adolescent delinquent boys treated in a community-based program that combined job placement, remedial education, and psychotherapy indicates that the better overall adjustment of the treated group, compared to untreated controls, is maintained well into adulthood. It reaffirms the importance of developing sound, innovative means of reaching adolescents in crisis, and suggests the value of a full-scale replication of the original program.

Prevention and treatment of adolescent violence.

“…Following the original 10-month intervention program, results indicated changes on a variety of attitudinal and behavioral measures, including a reduction in delinquent behavior for those youth in the treatment but not in the control group. In subsequent follow-up studies, these differences were maintained for up to 15 years following the original intervention (Shore & Massimo, 1979).…”

“…The eclectic nature of many treatment programs involving individual psychotherapy makes it difficult to pinpoint the precise mechanisms of change. Many of these programs combine elements of diverse strategies including specialized treatment plans (Barkwell, 1980), vocational training (Shore & Massimo, 1979), and behavior modification (e.g., O'Donnell et al, 1979). However, programs that have isolated some of these components can provide information about their independent contributions to behavior change.…”

Family Therapy with Delinquents: A Critical Review of the Literature

“…Other therapeutic modalities (91) and other interventions such as substantive community programs (83,111), have been effective in reducing recidivism. Due to limited personnel and economic resources, many criminal justice interventions, such as probation, are frequently unsubstantial in practice.…”

Families and the Therapy of Antisocial and Delinquent Behavior

“…As the child masters these skills, the delinquent behavior will become less prominent as a means, albeit indirect, for discussing the future. At younger ages the content of individual sessions may focus around extracurricular activities or carrying out of family responsibilities and accessing family privileges, whereas for adolescents, the focus can be constructed around educational and vocational plans and goals (Shore & Massimo, 1979). The importance of giving this aspect of the problem consideration is evidenced by the fact that perhaps the only empirical evidence of successful individual therapy with delinquents focused on this aspect of individual functioning (Shore & Massimo, 1979).…”