Risk Reduction through Family Therapy
Problems addressed
Drug abuse
Post-traumatic stress
Family breakdown and/or dysfunctionality
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Community (streets or community centers)
Country of application
United States
Description

This is an integrated program for adolescents aged 13 to 18 who have been victims of sexual assault and their families. It focuses on post-traumatic stress symptoms and other mental health problems, the use of psychoactive substances, and risky behaviors.
Treatment is individualized, taking into account the developmental factors, the severity of the symptoms, and the cultural background of each adolescent and their family. The intervention involves 18 to 24 weekly sessions lasting 60 to 90 minutes each, with regular checks between scheduled sessions.
There are also individual and family psychotherapy sessions, as well as brief telephone contacts between sessions.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that the program led to a reduction in trauma-related symptoms, risk factors, and substance use, as well as an increase in protective factors, better communication and family cohesion, greater knowledge and skills related to healthy dating and appropriate decisions regarding sexual behavior. There was also a reduction in the risk factors for revictimization [1] [2] [3].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Danielson, C. K., McCart, M. R., Arellano, M. A. de, Macdonald, A., Doherty, L. S. & Resnick, H. S. (2010). Risk reduction for substance use and trauma-related psychopathology in adolescent sexual assault victims: Findings from an open trial. Child Maltreatment, 15(3), 261–268. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559510367939

[2] Danielson, C. K., McCart, M. R., Walsh, K., Arellano, M. A. de, White, D. & Resnick, H. S. (2012). Reducing substance use risk and mental health problems among sexually assaulted adolescents: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Family Psychology: JFP: Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 26(4), 628–635. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028862

[3] Danielson, C. K., Adams, Z., McCart, M. R., Chapman, J. E., Sheidow, A. J., Walker, J., Smalling, A., & de Arellano, M. A. (2020). Safety and efficacy of exposure-based risk reduction through family therapy for co-occurring substance use problems and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among adolescents: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(6), 574–586. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4803

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