This review synthesized findings from 17 studies since 1998 regarding evaluation of outpatient treatments for adolescent substance abuse. These studies represented systematic design advances in adolescent clinical trial science. The research examined 46 different intervention conditions with a total sample of 2,307 adolescents. The sample included 7 individual cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) replications (n = 367), 13 group CBT replications (n = 771), 17 family therapy replications (n = 850) and 9 minimal treatment control conditions (n = 319). The total sample was composed of approximately 75% males, and the ethnic/racial distribution was approximately 45% White, 25% Hispanic, 25% African American, and 5% other groups. Meta-analysis was used to evaluate within-group effect sizes as well as differences between active treatment conditions and the minimal treatment control conditions. Methodological rigor of studies was classified using Nathan and Gorman (2002) criteria, and treatments were classified using criteria for well-established and probably efficacious interventions based on Chambless et al. (1996). Three treatment approaches, multidimensional family therapy, functional family therapy, and group CBT emerged as well-established models for substance abuse treatment. However, a number of other models are probably efficacious, and none of the treatment approaches appeared to be clearly superior to any others in terms of treatment effectiveness for adolescent substance abuse.

This randomized clinical trial evaluated individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, combined individual and family therapy, and a group intervention for 114 substance-abusing adolescents. Outcomes were percentage of days marijuana was used and percentage of youths achieving minimal use. Each intervention demonstrated some efficacy, although differences occurred for outcome measured, speed of change, and maintenance of change. From pretreatment to 4 months, significantly fewer days of use were found for the family therapy alone and the combined interventions. Significantly more youths had achieved minimal use levels in the family and combined conditions and in CBT. From pretreatment to 7 months, reductions in percentage of days of use were significant for the combined and group interventions, and changes in minimal use levels were significant for the family, combined, and group interventions.

In a sample of 101 adolescents who were admitted to residential treatment for alcohol or drug dependence, the corresponding measures from the two instruments produced comparable results. If the cross-validation of these two measures generalizes to adolescents treated in out-patient settings and other adolescent treatment populations, the GAIN and Form 90 may provide useful core alcohol measures for meta-analyses.

Attachment-Based Family Th erapy (ABFT) is the only empirically supported family therapy model designed to treat adolescent depression. Th is book describes clinical strategies for therapists, as well as the theoretical basis of the approach and the evidence base that supports it. ABFT emerges from interpersonal theories that suggest adolescent depression and suicide can be precipitated, exacerbated, or buff ered against by the quality of interpersonal relationships in families. ABFT organizes the therapy around tasks that repair interpersonal ruptures and rebuild an emotionally protective, secure-based, parent-child relationship. Th e treatment initially focuses on repairing or strengthening attachment and then turns to promoting adolescent autonomy. 2014. 280 pages. Hardcover.

Aims-Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches to intervention for adolescent substance use disorders has been limited and formal controlled clinical efficacy trials have been rare. Moreover, the early literature on the efficacy of CBT for adolescent substance abuse has been characterized by significant methodological limitations. Recent innovations in the treatment of adolescent substance abuse and the recent completion of several randomized clinical trials has brightened the picture with respect to establishing the empirical support for CBT. The aim of this review is to integrate the findings from controlled trials of CBT for adolescent substance abuse. Findings and conclusions-Despite some prominent differences in design and methodology, the studies reviewed provide consistent empirical evidence that group and individual CBT are associated with significant and clinically meaningful reductions in adolescent substance use. The evidence for the efficacy of group therapy is particularly important, countering the assertion that aggregating problem youths into group treatment settings is associated with iatrogenic effects. The findings from the randomized trials reviewed represent significant developments in treatment outcome research and lay the foundation for validating CBT for adolescent substance use disorders. Future research directions include improving short-and long-term outcomes, enhancing treatment motivation and engagement, and identifying mechanisms and processes associated with positive change, especially for youths with comorbid conditions. Method-Studies