This study investigated the efficacy of brief strategic family therapy (BSFT) with Hispanic behavior problem and drug using youth, an underrepresented population in the family therapy research literature. One hundred twenty-six Hispanic families with a behavior problem adolescent were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions: BSFT or group treatment control (GC). Results showed that, compared to GC cases, BSFT cases showed significantly greater pre-to post-intervention improvement in parent reports of adolescent conduct problems and delinquency, adolescent reports of marijuana use, and observer ratings and self reports of family functioning. These results extend prior findings on the efficacy of family interventions to a difficult to treat Hispanic adolescent sample.Disruptive behaviors and substance use continue to be among the most common presenting problems associated with child and adolescent referrals to mental health services (Kazdin, 1991; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2001). These problems are also among the most frequently diagnosed conditions in both outpatient and inpatient mental health facilities for children . As a consequence, scholars and policy makers have asserted that more research is needed on the early treatment of clinical dysfunction in childhood and adolescence, treatment that not only can reduce current dysfunction but also can play a preventive role in later years (Henggeler,

Several immune measures differed from controls after Hurricane Andrew. Negative (intrusive) thoughts and PTSD were related to lower NKCC. Loss was a key correlate of both posttraumatic symptoms and immune (NKCC, WBC) measures.

This study reports data on the efficacy of Strategic Structural Systems Engagement (SSSE), which is designed to bring hard-to-reach families into treatment. The study also explores variables that may contribute to differential effectiveness. Participants were 193 Hispanic families, who were randomly assigned to either experimental or control conditions. Several important findings emerged. First, the overall results replicated earlier findings showing the superiority of SSSE: 81% of SSSE families, compared to 60% of control families, were successfully engaged, ^(1, N = 193) = 7.5, p < .001. Second, SSSE interventions were more successful with non-Cuban Hispanics (97% successfully engaged) than with Cuban Hispanics (64% successfully engaged), x*(l, N = 51) = 7.53, p = .006. Third, an analysis of intervention failures suggests a mechanism by which culture and ethnicity influence clinical processes (resistance to engagement) and may result in differential effectiveness.Family therapy has become recognized as an effective therapeutic modality in general (Gurman, Kniskern, & Pinsof, 1986), and it has been recognized as particularly effective with drug abusing and behavior problem youth (

Forty-seven asymptomatic, healthy gay men were randomly assigned to a cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) condition or an assessment-only control group 5 weeks before being notified of their HIV-1 antibody status. Seventy-two hours before and 1 week after serostatus notification, blood samples and psychometric data were collected. Control subjects showed significant increases in depression, but only slight decrements in mitogen responsivity and lymphocyte cell counts pre- to postnotification of seropositivity. Seropositive CBSM Ss did not show significant pre-post changes in depression, but did reveal significant increases in helper-inducer (CD4) and natural killer (CD56) cell counts as well as a slight increment in proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Individual difference analyses suggest that the psychological buffering and immunomodulating effects of the CBSM manipulation may be attributable, in part, to relaxation skills learned and practiced or to a general willingness to comply with the intervention guidelines.