MultisystemicTherapy forDisruptiveBehaviorProblems inYouthsWithAutismSpectrumDisorders:A ProgressReport

Abstract

Youths with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often engage in serious disruptive behaviors that interfere with their ability to successfully manage day-to-day responsibilities and contribute to relationship problems with caregivers, peers, and teachers. Effective treatments are needed to address the factors linked with disruptive behavior problems in this population of youths. Multisystemic therapy (MST) is a comprehensive family- and community-based treatment approach that has been effective with other difficult-to-treat populations of youths and holds promise for youths with ASD. In this article, we review the broad range of factors associated with disruptive behaviors among youths with ASD and discuss how MST interventions can be adapted to address those factors. We also present a framework for our adaptation of the MST model for youths with ASD. This framework includes a recently completed pilot study as well as an ongoing efficacy trial that together have served to identify key interventions for our adaptation of the MST model.

Family System Interventions for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…However, behaviors may persist and skills may not generalize if there is not a uniform approach in the child's multiple environments. Wagner and colleagues 19 (2012) adapted MST for behavior problems in the context of ASD.…”

“…These services consume significant internal and external resources (eg, emotional and financial) from both the child and family. 19 …”

Editor's Annual Report: 2012–2013

“…Sometimes the importance of the problem studied, if addressed well, supports the article's publication. This was the case for articles related to the systemic treatment of youth with autism (Wagner et al., ), couple violence (Schneider & Brimhall, ), pre‐marital education for couples at risk (Barton, Futris, & Bradley, ), the cost effectiveness of family therapy with individuals with depression (Crane et al., ), and issues related to diversity, social justice and oppression (e.g., Seedall, Holtrop, & Parra‐Cardona, ).…”

A Few Suggestions for Prospective Authors: Learning From Recent JMFT Articles

“…Perhaps it is a meaningful family treatment for a particularly vulnerable group. In this category are recent articles—exemplars—with treatment implications for childhood abuse and neglect (McWey, Pazdera, Vennum, & Wojciak, ), children dealing with parental depression (Van Parys & Rober, ), issues of self‐harm (Brown & Kimball, ), interpersonal violence (O'Leary, Foran, & Cohen, ; Smith, Whiting, Karakurt, Oka, & Servino, ), and youth with autism spectrum disorders (Wagner et al., ).…”